IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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I.I 


1.25 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRlit 

WHSTIR.N.Y    USIO 

(714)  172-4503 


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U.A 


C9HM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


IHM/ECMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  at  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^  et/ou  pelliculAe 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serr^e  peut  cnuser  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lore  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentairas; 


L'Institut  a  microfilmd  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  dt6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode.normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelltcul^es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxei 
Pages  dicolor^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditach^as 

Showthrough> 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inigale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  matdriel  suppl^mentairo 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~l  Pages  damaged/ 

I      I  Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 

l~y]  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I      I  Pages  detached/ 

Fy]  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

r~l  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
I.es  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  ix6  filmies  A  nouveau  de  fapon  it 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
tot 


The 
pos 
oft 
film 


Ori( 
beg 
the 
slot 
othi 
first 
sior 
or  il 


The 
shal 
TINi 
whi 

Mai: 
diffi 
entii 
begl 
righ 
reqi 
met 


This  item 
Ce  docum 

s  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

ent  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous 

l4X                               ISX                              22X 

■^■Ix 

XX 

7 

12X 


lex 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  of  the  Public 
Archives  of  Canada 

The  images  appearing  here  arc  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  Ail 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrdted  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grice  A  la 
g4nArosit6  de: 

La  bibliothdque  des  Archives 
publiques  du  Canada 

Les  images  sulvantes  ont  4tA  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet*  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  at  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim6e  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  selon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmte  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  talle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  ie  symbols  — »>  signifie  "A  SUiVRE",  Ie 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seui  clich*.  11  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'engle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  k  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  disgrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  la  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE  NECESSITY  OP  A  SHIP-CANAL  BETWEEN  THE  EAST  AND  THE  WEST. 


^// 


JR  E  I>  O  R  T 


OF     T  H  K 


COMMITTEE  ON  STATISTICS, 


FOR  THE  CITY  OF  CHICAGO, 


BCBMITTKD     TO     THE 


NATIONAL  CONVENTION. 


1B81MBLBD 


AT  CHICAGO,  JUNE  2,  1863. 


CHICAGO: 

TRIBUNE  COMPANY'S  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTING  OFFTCK,  61  CLARK  STREET. 

186?. 


\\ 


It 


S>! 


NECESSITY  or  A  SHIP-CANAL  BETWEEN  THE 

EAST  AND  WEST. 


The  Congress  shall  have  power  to  levy  taxes,  duties,  imposts  and  excises— to 
provide  for  the  COMMON  DEFENSE,  and  promote  the  GENERAL  WELFARE 
of  the  United  States." — Constitution. 

The  Committee,  npj)omted  to  collect  statistics  as  to  the  importance 
of  uniting  the  icatcrs  of  the  3Iississippi  with  those  of  the  Atlantic 
by  a  Ship- Canal,  have  dis'harged  the  duties  im2)osed  vpon  them, 
and  submit  the  following 

KEPOET. 

Two  schemos  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  have  been 
brought  prominently  before  the  country,  and  failed,  only  by  a  few 
votes,  to  receive  the  sanction  of  the  Thirty-Seventh  Congress. 

1.  To  make  a  slack-water  navigation  of  the  Illinois  and  Des 
Plaines  rivers,  and  to  enlarge  the  present  Illinois  and  3Iichigan 
canal  to  such  dimensions  as  shall  admit  of  th(;  passage  of  gun- 
boats,  and  of  the  largest  class  of  Mississijjpi  steamers,  to  the  Lakes. 

2.  To  enlarge  the  locks  of  the  Erie  and  Oswego  canals  of  New 
York,  to  such  dimensions  as  shall  pass  an  iron-clad  gun-boat  25 
feet  wide  and  200  feet  long,  and  drawing  not  less  than  6  feet  and 
6  inches  water. 

The  cost  of  construction  of  the  first  will  be  about  !jil3,.500,000, 
and  that  of  the  second,  $3,500,000;— detailed  estimates  of  which 
will  be  presented  to  the  Convention. 

In  devising  an  extensive  system  of  internal  conununication,  it  is 
of  the  highest  importance  to  inquire  into  the  resources  of  the 
region  which  it  shall  traverse  ;  its  topography,  soil  and  climate;  its 
population,  products  of  industry  and  internal  commerce;  and  its 
past  and  prospective  growth  ;— all  are  elements  to  be  taken  into 
consideration  to  enable  us  to  form  an  intelligible  opinion  as  to  the 
necessity  of  oxorMiting  such  work?,  and  the  scale  of  inngnitudc 
which  they  should  be  projected. 


on 


VA 


PHYSICAL    CHARACTER   OP   THK    MISSISSIPPI    BASIX. 

The  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  bounded  on  the  one  hand  bv  the 
Rocky  mountains,  and  on  tlie  other  by  the  Alleghanies,  embraces 
a  drainage  area  of  1,244,000  square  miles,  which  i.  more  than 
one-half  of  the  entire  area  of  the  United  States.  The  Upper 
Mississippi  Valley  is  composed  of  three  subordinate  basins,  whose 
respective  dimensions  are  as  follows : 

The  Ohio  bnsin 911  maa 

wu^  TT  «•    •    .     .  ■^l*,' "00  square  mi  es. 

The  Upper  Mississippi i^.^^^O       -  u 

^'^"^'™" 618,000       "  .. 

Making  a  total  of 901^000        «« 

Its  navigable  rivers  are  as  follows  : 

Missouri,  to  near  the  Great  FalN q  1  ka      -i 

y,.  .        .  „  ...     •1,150     miles. 

Missouri,  above  Great  Falls  to  Three  Forks 150       " 

Osage,  to  Osceola ',       „ 

JvansHs 

Big  Sioux 

^" 'jg         <i 

Yellow-stone 

Upper  Mississippi,  to  St.  Paul g-g  u 

St.  Anthony,  to  Sauk  Rapids /[        g^  „ 

Above  Little  Falls,  to  Pokegima  Fails  . .'.  '  * .' .' " .' '."  *  *  *  2m  «' 

Minnesota,  to  Patterson's  Ri.pids 295  «' 

St.  Croix,  to  St.  Croix  Falls '.'..'.'.'..'.'.        60  " 

Illinois,  to  La  Salle 220  " 

Ohio,  to  Pittsburgh 975  <» 

Monongahela,  to  Geneva  (slack-water,  4  looks,)  ......        91  u 

Muskingum,  to  Dresden  «'  8      "       .,    '**  loo  " 

Green  River,  to  Bowling  Green  *'  6      "       .'.'..".'.'  ]8fi  «' 

Kentucky,  to  Brooklyn  "  5      <»       ..,    ,  n^  <c 

Kanawha,  to  Gauley  Bridge [[  i,jq  .. 

Wabash,  to  Lafayette 335  •< 

Srtit,  to  S!iepherdsville „,>  „ 

Sandy,  to  L'luisa '    *"         „  „ 

T.nnessee,  to  Muscle  Shoals .'.'.*.'.... . .'.'.'  oo  <• 

Cumberland,  to  Bmkes'7ille 370  " 

Total  navigation "sTJv?       " 

It  would  thus  appear  that  the  internal  navigation  of  the  Upper 
Mississippi  Valley  i.s  about  9,000  miles  in  extent;    but,  during 


the  stiraraer  months,  even  through  the  main  channels,  it  becomes 
precarious,  and  at  times  is  practically  suspended. 

The  Mississippi  Valley,  viewed  as  a  whole,  may  be  regarded  as 
one  great  plain  between  two  diverging  coast  ranges,  elevated  from 
400  to  800  feet  above  the  sea.  St.  Paul,  the  head  of  the  navigation 
ot  the  Mississippi,  is  800  feet  above  the  ocean  ;  Pittsburgh,  ^at  the 
junction  of  the  Monongahela  and  Alleghany,  forming  the  Ohio 
699  feet ;  Lake  Superior  on  the  north,  627  feet ;  but  the  water-shed 
on  the  west,  at  South  Pass,  rises  to  nearly  7,500  feet. 

It  is  traversed  by  no  mountain  ranges,  but  the  surf\ice  swells  into 
hills  and  ridges,  and  is  diversified  by  forest  and  prairie.  Leavin<r 
out  the  sterile  portions  west  of  the  Missouri,  the  soil  is  almos't 
uniformly  fertile,  easily  cultivated,  and  yields  an  abundant,  return. 
The  climate  is  healthy  and  invigorating,  and  altogether  the  region 
18  the  most  attractive  for  immigration  of  any  portion  of  the  earth. 

PHYSICAL    CHARACTER   OF   THE    ST.    LAWRENCE. 

The  sources  of  the  Mississippi  on  the  east  interlock  with  those 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  which,  with  its  associated  lakes  and  rivers, 
presents  a  system  of  water-comniunicatiou  of  nearly  equal  extent 
and  grandeur. 

TABLE  SHOWING  THE  DIMENSIONS  OF  THE  FIVE  UKEAT  AMERICAN  LAKES. 


•C^r 


The  entire  area  drained  by  these  lakes  is  estimated  at  33;j,.515 
square  miles,  and  their  shore  lines  are  nearly  5,000  miles  in  extent, 
while  those  of  the  Atlantic  are  but  3,500. 

These  rivers  are  as  diverse  in  character  as  in  direction.     The 


— ,. — _ __ 

LAKES. 

Greatest 
Itngth. 

Greatest 
breadth. 

Height 
above  Sea. 

Area  In 
pquare  miles. 

Superior 

MILGH. 

355 
320 
260 
240 
180 

MILRS. 

100 

100 

160 

80 

35 

FKKT. 

627 
578 
578 
505 
232 

32,000 
22,000 
20,400 

Michigan 

Huron 

Erie 

Ontario 

ll,6G0 

6,300 

Total 

/ 



90,300                                    1 

i 

Mississippi  is  the  longer,  but  the  St.  Lawrence  dischargees  the 
greater  volume  of  water;    the  one  abounds  in  difficult  rapids,  the 

of  the  on?     T  ^r-7T  '";^"'''  ""^"^>'^"^  ^--'5    the  waters 
of   he  one  are  turbid,  those  of  the  other  possess  an  ahnost  crystal 

punty  ;  the  one  affords  few  lake-like  expansions,  the  oth      sw 

into  vast  inland  seas.     Both  have  become  the  great  highways  of 

commerce,  enriching  the  regions  through  whic^  they  flow  Td 

supplying   the   inhabitants  with   the  varied   products  of  distant 

cl.mes.     (Mster  and  Whitney^s  Report  on  Lahe  Superior ) 

$450  O00,000_more  than  twice  the  external  commerce  of  the  whole 
dasseZC  '■'"'""'^  """  ^^  ""  ^'''  ^^  ^'^^^  ^"''^'^'^«'  «*■  ^^'^'  following 

Steamers f?;  ''°"3'  '''''"•'• 

Propellers '  f/^  ^2,190..00 

BuL                     ^'*'^^'^  3,573,300 

Bri.rs "^^  '^^'203  982,900 

Sloops •••  '''  '       '-^'^^^  «.«W.50 

Barges .V;    'l  ''^  ^W 

°       3  3,719  17.000 

'^*''^'' ••    ••    1.643         413,026         |i^I^ 

The  following  are  the  distances  of  some  of  the  commercial 
routes,  taking  Chicago  as  the  initial  point : 

Chicago  to  Fond  du  Lac  Superior nr^n     -, 

Georgian   Bay .. 

"        "  Buffalo ^.' 

"        "  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  .'*.'.'  *.'.'.'.*.'.'.'.'.*.".'.*.*.'."  j  950      ." 
PROGRESS    OP   DEVELOPMENT. 

The  first  oolo^  of  EnglisI,  cxlr.otion,  planted  in  the  territory 
of  the  U, per  M.ss.ss.pp,,  was  in  1788-just  seventyfive  years 
ago-at  Marietta,  within  the  present  limits  of  Ohio.  This  was  the 
or,g,n  of  that  spirit  of  t^ljpnkation,  whieh,  within  the  lifetime  of 
many  lu.ng  men  has  peopled  "this  region  with  nine  n,illions  of 
human  bemgs ;  has  subdued  and  brought  under  eultivntion,  an 
area  grea  er  than  that  of  all  the  cultivated  lands  of  the  Bri  ish 
Kmp,re;  has  conneeted  the  principal  commercial  points  with  a 
net-work  o  railways  more  than  eleven  thousand  miles  in  CKtent 
and  has  bmlt  up  a  domestic  industry,  the  value  of  whose  anl^'i 


product  ,s  ,„  excels  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  ,„illio„s  „f  dollar,. 
Out  of  th.8  tevr.tory  have  been  cawed  not  less  than  nine  States, 
which  are  ,nd,ssoIubly  linked  tog..the,.  by  a  sinularity  of  condition^ 
.n  sod  a^d  elimate,  and  by  the  geographical  featu.x-s  of  the  co,„,try. 
Ihey  have  already  received  the  aj.pellation  of  the  "Food- 
PRODUcixr."  States-a„  appellation  which  they  arc  destined  to 
1  etain  for  all  time. 

The  rivers  and  the  lakes,  which  water  this  region,  offer  the  most 
magnificent  system  of  internal  communication  to  be  foun.l  on  the 
surface  of  the  earth.     No  mountain  barriers  interpose  to  divide  the 
people  into  hostile  clans,  or  divert  the  great  currents  of  trade  in 
their  flow  to  the  markets  of  the  world.     With  a  soil  sufficiently 
rich  in  organic  matter  for  fifty  su<,cessive  crops ;  with  almost  bound- 
less fields  of  coal,  stored  away  for  future  use  ;   with  vast  deposits 
of  the  useful  ores,  and  the  precious  metals,  on  the  rim  of  the  .n-eat 
basin  ;    and  with  a  climate  most  fltvorable  to  the  development  of 
human  energy,  it  is  impossible  for  the  mind,  even  in  its  most  darin^r 
speculations,  to  assign  limits  to  the  growth  of  the  North- West" 
When  all  of  these  elements  of  wealth,  now  in  a  crude  state,  shall 
have  been  fully  developed,  there  will  be  an  exhibition  of  human 
power  and  greatness  such  as  no  other  people  ever  attained 

The  subjoined  table  (A.),  compiled  from  the  Census  returns  of 
the  United  States,  exhibits  the  progress  of  population,  as  well  as 
of  cultivation  in  these  States,  from  1800  to  1860;  and  it  will  be 
perceived  that,  during  this   period,  in   both  these   respects,   the 
increase  has  been  each  decade  about  two-fold. 

The    appended    table    (B.),    also  compiled    from    the    Census 
returns,  shows  that  the  increase  in  agricultural  products  and  in 
domestic  animals  has  been  in  about  the  same  proportions.     Com- 
paring the  whole  superficial  contents   of  these  States    with  the 
portions  cultivated,  it  will  be  seen  that  only  about  15.^  percent 
of  the  surface  has  been  subdued;    and,  if  population  and  cultiva^ 
tion  increase  in  the  same  ratio  in  the  future  as  thev  have  in  the  past 
before  the  lap^e  of  another  decade  there  will  be  collected  annuallv' 
on  the  borders  of  the  Great  Lakes,  more  than  200,000,000  bushels 
of  cereals  for  exportation,  giving  employment  to  a  fieet  of  more 
than  3,000  vessels,  and  requiring  avenues  of  more  than  twice  the 
capacity  of  existing  ones. 


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10 

Here  is  a  gross  sum  of  more  than  650,000,000  busliels  of  cereals, 
the  product  of  the  eight  Food-producing  States  for  the  year  1859^ 
based  on  a  crop  which  was  nearly  one-third  deficient,  as  contrasted 
with  those  of  1860  and  1861. 

To  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  motive  power  required  to 
distribute  this  prodigious  mass,  in  its  crude  state,  it  may  be  stated 
that  it  would  employ  more  than  64,400  locomotives,  each  haulin.cr 
8,500  busliels ;  and,  if  required  to  deposit  their  freight  at  a  given 
depot,  a  train  must  arrive  oftener  than  once  in  seven  minutes,  by 
day  and  by  night,  throughout  every  working  day  of  the  year/ 

After  feeding  the  existing  population  of  those  States,  there 
remains  a  surplus  of  more  than  500,000,000  of  bushels,  to  be  used 
as  seed  for  future  crops,  as  food  for  tho  doraestio  animals,  and  for 
exportation,  either  in  a  crude  state,  or  in  a  concentrated  form,  as 
•beef,  pork,  lard,  oil,  whisky,  etc.,  etc. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  increase  of  agricultural  products  since 
1859,  consequent  on  improved  crops,  a.id  an  enlarged  area  of  cul- 
tivation,  your  Committee  would  direct  attention  to  the  provision- 
trade  of  Cliicago  for  the  last  four  years. 

TABLE.  SHOWING  THE  RECEIPTS  AT  CHICAGO  OF  THE  ARTICLES  NAMED  FOR   THE 

YEARS  l«J-62.  '^x,ry,a    iuj£ 


ARTICLES. 


1859. 


Flour,  barrels. . . 
Wheat,  bushels. 
Corn,  " 

Oats,  "      . 

Rye,  " 

Barley,        " 
HogH  .......... 

Cattle 


726,821 

8,0«n,'7t)6 

r),4()1.870 

l,7r)7,fi96 

2K1,5U 

652,6aB 

271,204 

111,694 


1860. 


713,-348 

14,427,(183 

1 5,262, :i()4 

2,11)8,889 

818,976 

617,619 

392,864 

177,101 


1861. 


1,479,284 

17,385,0112 

26,369,989 

2,067,018 

49(t,9H9 

4. ■.7.589 

675,902 

204,679 


1863. 


1,666,391 

13,978,116 

29,574,328 

4,688,722 

1,038,825 

872,053 

1,348,890 

209.665 


Thus,  the  increase  in  cereals  has  been  106  per  cent.;  in  hogs 
400  JUT  cetit.;  and  in  cattle,  87  per  cent.  ' 

Results  equally  marked  are  shown  by  the  returns  of  the  other 
ilnke-[)orts. 

BLOCKADE    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

It  may  be  said  that  this  is  the  result  of  the  blockade  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  that,  so  soon  as  that  blocka.le  is  raised,  a  considerable 
portion  of  these  products  will  seek  an  outlet  through  th.at  channel 
This  IS  a  mistaken  idea,  which  a  brief  reference  to  the  st.ati.stins  of 
trade  will  entirely  dispel. 


u 

.•ep»:,  ::;"'""  "'  ""  ^""^''■^''  ^'-"■'^  »f  ^,...0,  l.,  a  ..ece„t 

"  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  West  tho  Af :  .:    •     • 
».d  of  not  los,  tl,.„  li.,.  „„„k  „i|^,„,,  b,,„„™  .h!;  ^,°"'  ;"^  Canadian  cana.,, 

c.poir.^tHo:*':,".!; :::::;  r;'  ^---r  '"■-"•' -.-e,.  „r 

.-o  yea.  an.,  a  .o.„,.  i,:', t     /  ^  'I  V.-T^:*"""- '''"  ":'°''"  °"''""  "' 
markets  of  the   worl.!      th,..n  •,     ''^''' •^•^"^^'  ""!«^8  in  a  direct  line  to  the 

^Hvertt^egre^Z^     ::;n^::;^-   '"7   ^'^T   ^^=«^^'-^'^  PoweHu,   to 
to   1860,   the   West  found        1^^       ^/'""^  ^'■'""  "^'  ^'^""' ^°  ^''«  *:««^-    ^^P 
bread-st;«.  and    rl^i:        n       e  ^::!\  :  Jl^  '^"^'^^^  ^^-'^  «^  "- 
the   amount   whieh   was  exnort  >      fro  ^^'v   O         "''' ""^^  ^ 
exceedi„gtwon.,.ionsof  don  Jper  ::'::"  ''"'   ""^'"'^^"'    "''^^'^' 

The  annual  report  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Tren.n.-v  f     .1 

endino-AiKTusf -ii    ispo    i  .        ^^  "^  ^"^  ^ '^'^^'"T*  f'>i' the  year 

_  "n^-,  August  31,  1800,  shows  the  amount  of  hread-stufFs  and  nm 

visions  exported  to  foreign  countries  fron.  .Vew  Orlea  s  an     N  w 

\  ork  respectively,  as  follows  :  ^""^^ 

From  From 

Wheat,  bushels                                                   '"^  *^"'''"'-  ^''''^  ^o^k. 

Wheat  Flour,  barrels.  *.'.* ^'^  i,m\iH^S 

Indi.n  Corn,  bushel. ". ". Z't\  ^'^^^'"" 

Indian  Meal,  barrels. ...          ^^"^^-  l,58(.,OI4 

Pork,  barrels                                  ^"^  8<'-^'''^^ 

Hams  and  Bacon,;;.*  id;.:;;;;;: ,J'!tl'  ,.  '''•'^' 

^'.'0,280       16,161,741) 

The  total  receipts  of  grain  of  all  kinds  -t  fl.nf  rw...f   •  •     , 

year  exceeded  14,500,000  bushels,  e  Uu^  t^,^  r  "  "' '"'^'^ 
s.anption  in  the  interior,  which  arJ  al !  Mh:  ^^" T  U.  ^'"'' 
kee,  or  Toledo.     In  1350-00,  the  receipts  ...^l^Z::.:''''^'- 

FLOUR.  WlfEAT.  ooRV 

*''''•  """ks  a.Kl  bbl.s.  sacks  ami  l.hi,  ,  ^'^'^^- 

The.e  facts  show  conclusively  that,  with  the  navigation  of  the 
Mi.s.ss.pp,  unohstructe<l,  the  great  tuass  of  Western  exr.orfs  J  m 
flow  through  other  channels.  ^'"'^'  ""'^"'^ 

MlODUcrr   OP    nUKAO-STUFFS    FOR    EXPOKTATIOV. 

The  an.ount  of  cereals,  which,  in  1802,  flowed  out  of  the  Fpner 

M.ss.ss.pp.  Valley  ar.d  the  region  of  the  L.kes,  ..  .v  .^!  f!,.' 

ea- board,  was,  ac-ording  to  the  Buffalo  Trade  1  ep.ut  1 '  0      ,  540 

l'i'sh,.ls,  which   were  respectively   forwmh.  1    .   ''•'".^' ''^^'j -•^S*'^ 

points:  ^  ^    luiHcUUed  ivum  tiie  loilowing 


/// 


\\\ 


12 


STATEMENT  SHOWING  THE  SHIPMENT  OP  CERE*LS  FOR  1SC2, 


PLACES. 


FLOUR. 

JSBLH. 


W.  Terminus  B.  &  0.  R.  R.*. . . 
"     Pennsylvania  Central 

Dunkirk  ....      

SupptMision  Bridge* 

Buffalo 

Oswego  

Cape  Vincent  

Ogdensburg  

Montreal 

Rochester* 

*  Estimated. 


690.000 

890,696 
1,0»5,:^6.'> 

875,000 
2,846,022 

235,:i82 
48,.^7^< 

576,394 

1,101,475 

1,000 


WHEAT. 

B(J3B. 


112,061 

30,435,83*1 

10,982,132 

316,403 

689,930 

8,012,773 

150,000 


Totals 


8,359,910 


50,699,130 


CORN. 

BUSH. 


149,654 

24,288,627 

4,528,962 

249,369 

1,120,176 

2,649,136 


32,985,923 


OTHER 
GRAIN. 

BUSH. 


550,000 

1,622,893 

10,173 

2,750,000 

3,849,620 

1,467,82.3 

49,047 

18,865 

519,896 

6,622 


10,814,939 


Grand  Total,  (Flour  reduced  to  bushels) 186  329  642 


SHIPMENTS  OF  CEREALS  FROM   FOUR  LAKE  PORTS,  IN  1862. 


PLACES. 


Chicago. . . 
Milwaukee 
Toledo*  . . 
Detroitf    . 


Totals 


FLOUR. 

BDL.'^. 


1,739,849 
711,405 

1,261,291 
998,535 


4,711,080 


WHEAT. 

BUSH. 

13,808,898 

14,915,680 

9,314,491 

3,278,033 


CORN. 

BUSH 


29,452,610 

9,489 

3,781,634 

310,618 


41,317,102   33,554,351 


OTHER 
GRAIN. 

BUSU. 


4,516,35*7 

250,292 

122,109 


4,888,758 


Grand  Total,   (Flour  reduced  to    bushels) .103315611 


*  Amount  received  from  Chicago  diducted. 

J-  Amiunt  recelveil  from  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  deducted. 

Tlio  iiiiniiig  po|>nI:ition  of  Liiko  Su])t'rior  iibsorb  not  less  Uum 
150,000  bushels  of  cereals,  which  do  not  ajtpear  in  the  above 
tables,  an<l  wliicli  will  aeeoimt  for  the  diserepancies  between  the 
amounts  shipped  from  the  initial  points,  and  the  amounts  forwarded 
from  theseeondary  \  )ints.  These  tables  are  illustrative,  as  showing 
that,  in  this  ,i,M-eat  grain-movement,  the  four  lake  ports  furnish  more 
than  lift}  per  cent,  of  all  the  Hour,  inore  than  eighty  per  cent,  of 
all  the  wheal,  and  more  than  seventy-Hve  per  eent.  of  tlie  cereals 
of  all  kinds  ;  while  Chicago  and  Toledo  together  furnidi  more 
corn  thai:  iinds  its  way  e;istward  through  all  these  avenues,  and 
Cliieago  nlone  eontribule.s  more  than  f.rty  per  cent,  of  the  whole 


gross  pro 


luet. 


13 

These  etatistios  .how  to  what  gigantic  proportions  the  grain-trade 
of  the  N„rth-West_the  growth  of  less  than  a  q„  arter  of  ^cent,  vy- 

by  one  of  this  Comm.ttee  in  18.1S;  but  the  earliest  bill  of  lartin,' 
preserved  bears  date  Oct.  8,  1M9,  and  calls  for  1,078  bushes  of 
wheat,  to  be  delivered  at  Black  Koek. 

PBOVISION   TRABE. 

The  provision  trade  has  assumed  dimensions  equally  important 
The  fo  lowing  returns  of  the  pork-paeking  in  the  Nor U. West  are 
aken  from  the  Cincinnati  Price  Current,  showing  the  number  of 
hogs  slaughtered,  as  well  as  forwarded : 

Ohio r''-''-  ^8«2-3. 

Indiana ;:::; iiyzi      '''^''' 

Illinois «tff  '"'"''' 

Iowa  ^"^'^'^^^  1,484,834 

«.      ■". 205,188  403,899 

Missouri .,„  „„.  ' 

Wi.         ■    1S8,766  284,011 

Wisconsin ia,,  ^k^.  , 

100,556  196,745 

„                    '^"^'^^^ 2,566,788  8,938  7(i0 

Excess  over  preceding  year 3^1012 

Aggregate  weight  in  lbs 606,788.684  854,6l7;900 

The  number  of  hogs  forwarded  by  the 

M       xr     .  iSiU2.  1862-8. 

New  Yorlt  and  Erie  Railroad 124,792  136  <i07 

Peimsylvauia  Railroad     205,103  i7i,'49o 

829,875  807^ 

No  returns  of  the  number  sent  througli  Canada,  or  delivered  at 
liuttjjo,  have  as  yet  been  received. 

The  Connriittee  have  not  complete  returns  of  the  extent  of 
beet-packmg  m  the  North-West.  The  shipments  of  entile  throuc.h 
one  avenue  alone-Detroit-amounted  last  year  to  7:>,9G4. 

COUN     CROP. 

Hut  tlu.  great  crop  of  the  North-West  is  that  of  nnii.e,  or  Indian 
corn,  he  yearly  pro.luct  of  wi.ieh  i.  now  not  loss  than  500,000,000 
M.shels.  It  .s  easily  cultivated,  and  yiel.ls  an  ahnost  unfailing 
return.  It  ,s  the  cheapest  food  for  domestic  anbnals,  and  in  a 
concentrated  f^>rm,  like  beef;  pork,  lard,  aleolu,),  and  whisky,  will 
'>^'a'-  transportation  to  every  quarter  of  the  world.      I„  a  crude 


/// 


'.'II 

h 


14 

state,  it  is  a  commodity  so  bulky  and  perishable  that,  loaded  with 
TrZZ       ^IT  "'  ^'-^"^P-'^^^^i^"'  ^h-  P'-airie  farmer  often  finds 

60  L  ^^""Y)''^:  ''  ^^^^'^^^  to  the  New  England  operative  at 
bein^  '  7  ''"".^'f^T  ''  ''"  ^"^^  ^^""  ^  ^^*"^^~the  difference 
ttat  onTv  ^"^"/"^^'  '"^  commissions.     The  consequence  is, 

ea  h!s  n  K      :  '''  ''"'•  ""'  ''^'  '''-''''  '^  its  crude  state 

reaches  the  sea-board. 

Estimating  the   future  by  the  past,  it  is  impossible  to  assign 
hm  ts  to  the  productive  power  of  the  North-West.      That  power 
will  keep  pace  with  the  world's  demand  for  cheap  bread_a  demand 
a  ways  craving  but  never  satisfied.     Hostile  legislation  may  under- 
take to  confine  Its  passage  to  particular  channels,  and  interested 
parties  to  levy  extortionate  charges  on  its  transit;  but  the  recip- 
rocal mterest  of  producer  and  consumer  will  be  sufficiently  powerftd 
to  sweep  away  all  such  obstacles.     The  universal  sentiment  of 
mankind,  as  well  as  the  dictates  of  a  sound  political  economy 
demands  that  products  of  such  vital  necessity  to  the  race  shall  be 
mcumbered  with  the  least  possible  restraints. 

MINERAL   RESOURCES -LAKE    SUPERIOR   MINING   REGION. 

Prior  to  1845,  Lake  Superior  was  regarded  almost  as  a  mare 
claasum;-ouoor  t^^o  vessels  in  the  employment  of  the  British 
and  Amencan  Fur  Companion  being  the  only  ones  whose  canvas 
whitened  those  magnificent  waters.  The  trade  of  that  region,  now 
estimated  at  $22,000,000  per  annum,  requires  about  200  vesse  s  for 
its  transaction. 

Tlie  copper-mimng  of  this  region  1ms  become  one  of  tl.e  -.vat 
.miustnal  „„ore«ts  of  the  country,  giving  c.nployn.ent  to  ynohMy 
10,000  „„„,..,,  and  y,el,ln,g  .„  annnal  pvo-luct  wind,  goL  far  to 
'^m'b  "e  want,  for  l.on.c  co„s«n,|,tion.  The  native  n.etal-for 
nndcr  tlu,s  for..,  it  is  almost  exclnsivoly  f,H.,..]-yiel,Is  a  co,n,cr- 

ntlnng,  w,„o|,,  for  ,,nrity  and  le..acity,  is  far  s..|,erior  to  'a.,y 

The  c,.|,rifero„s  belt  extends,  o.,  the  sonther..  sl.ore  of  that  lake 
fro..,  .be  hea,l  of  Keweenaw  Point  to  bcyornl  the  Onto„a„on_tl,e 

'ly  following  statement  sl.ows  tl.e  ann..al  vield  in  ton,  (2,240  lb« ) 
of  the  .n.nes,  fro.n  the  com,ne.,ee...ent  of  ,.,ini.,g  operations  «n  to 


aded  with 
ften  finds 
3  the  sea- 
irative  at 
difference 
[uence  is, 
ide  state, 

lo  assicrn 
It  power 
I  demand 
ly  under- 
iterosted 
he  recip- 
povverful 
ment  of 
Bonomy, 
shall  be 


5N. 

a  mare 

British 

canvas 

on,  now 

Jsois  for 

e  great 
I'ohahly 
^  far  to 
al—for 
5opper- 
to  any 

it  lake, 
n— the 
m  2  to 

mibs.) 
I  up  to 


15 


AQGREGATE  SHIPMENTS  OF  COPPER  FRnw  t  k^^ 

u*  COPPER  FROM  LAKE  SUPERIOR.  FROM  18  45  TO  186?. 

Shipments  in  1845...  ^'""' 


//;f' 


tl 

1846 

•i 

1847 

<t 

1S48 

«t 

1849 

M 

1850 

(« 

1851 

<4 

1852 

l« 

185:^ 

(1 

1854 

M 

1855 

« 

1856 

<l 

1857 

•1 

1858 

it 

1859 

t< 

1860 

<« 

1861 

«t 

1862 

lbs. 
.1300 


29. 

239. 

616. 

750. 

640. 

872. 

887. 
1,452. 
2,300. 
3,196. 
5,726. 
5,759. 
5,896. 
6,041. 
8,614. 
10,337. 
10,000. 

IROX    ORES. 


Value. 

$•190 

2,619 
107,550 
206,400 
301,200 
266,000 
848,800 
800,450 
508,200 
805,000 
1,437,000 
2,400,100 
2,015,650 
1,610,000 
1,932,000 
2,520.000 
3,180,000 
4,000,000 


The 


ores  occur  in  mountain  masses,   sufficient  to  furnish    an 
n  m,ted  quantity  of  the  purest  iron  for  all  time.     They      1;: 

pa.allcl   of   Chocolate    r.ver    160    miles   west,    into    Wisconsin 

i^  soutr'T  r'""'  ''  "''^^  ^'^^^^  ores  approa'ch   Lak     s~ 
IS  south  ot  Marquette,  distant  twelve  miles      A  railroid  hJ? 
const      te,,,,^^„  -'-  in  1-gth,  so  as  to  i'ntete  V:  tht:: 

g.ea   deposits,  and  the  amount  of  ore  brought  down  eac l  year    ^ 
argely  on  the  increase,  as  is  shown  in  th.  following  re      nlLin 
the  Marquette  Journal,  of  January  IG,  1863  • 


THE  IRON  PRODUCT  OF  THE  LAKE  SUPERIOR-SHIPMENTS  OF  IRON  ORE 

Year.  imn*'^?'''"'""  ,    Clevebn.l        Lake  Superior 

1  o  .  :  ^'°"  Company.  Iron  Co.npany.  Iron  Company 

1,447  


^^^^ 4,497 

^^•^■^ 13,912 

18'^S 11,104 

^^^^ 10,602 

'^'"^ 41,286 

'^''1 12,919 

1802........  _. ^2,1Q1 

Totiil  amount  sliippod  to  date. 


7,100 
12,272 
19,931 
30,344 
42,698 

7,311 
35,244 


24,668 
33,016 
25,200 

87,710 


Total 
Oro89  tons. 

1,447 

11,597 

26,184 

31,035 

65,679 

110,998 
45,430 

lir,72l 

414,0»l 


V 


\\\ 


16 


These  ores  are  the  peroxide,  or  specular  variety    often  nearl. 

m,n,ng  ,,  required,  fo,-  the  o,c  l,i„g  i„  g.-eafkLb    o   , Xs  l! 
worked  in  an  oiien  qnarry.     These  ores  are  in  o-re,,  1       \  ■ 
western  Pennsylvania  and  nor,l,er„  Ohio    ,vlere  til  n"     '." 
with  the  carbonates  of  the  rn,i  m  1  ^  "'"  ""^<^'' 

the  quality  of  tht  ii:: i:'':aS;'i,jreT'  "^  "'""■  ""'"''™"°" 

flte^dT,"  ""  T'""  °^*''"  N--tl'-West  whieh  will  be  more  bene- 

^^S"^r:;::;:™— :;;rrr  '7  ^--^^ 

sea-board,  or  wherever  chei,,  fuel  obta    s    T.T"     '  'n'  '"  ""•' 
per  cent,  of  pnre  iron  in  the 'work  .J,;  wm  h  .^f  J',      T '' 

■ate  river  of  Lale  Superior,  t,:1;t::;  '  in^.-"! h.:'  t'iT" 
an  .mportant  link  in  internal  eo,„m„n,cation  •  tirst'  ^flLl  " 
additional  outlet  for  these  ores  ;  seeond,  as  Ihon::.-^  t  t' 1" 

;^fi^irea^-™^-i:~^ 

SALT-BASIM    op    MICHIGAN. 

onlli!  H  ""  '  ■'''  '■'■■Jf  ^  "■""•^•'''-'  "»"-"»■->  •'-  •'"■n  devel- 
oped tn  the  region  of  Saginaw  Valley,  in  the  Lower  Peninsula  of 

twenrttrvriii!!:::  ::r:  ••r:::'^^^^^^^^ 

hundred,    whose   pro.luet   for  the  pn;!e  t  "         i  "    ,         ' ,°"" 
4,000,000   bushelH    whieh   „iii    „"-  ''.'"•"\J''ai    19  emulated  at 

Wester,   S,,7\.,  '  "'  P"""'!"!  •na.-ket  in  the 

Hcstein  States.     'Ihe   pr,„l„„t  of  the   OnondiL.a  S.,lt  « 

whieh  last  year  reached  9,OM,ooo  bushel^,      X-     '       •"*"' 
largely  absorbed  by  tile  North-vVes,,  havln    b  ^ ,         : tslivni: 
and  even  Leavenworth  ;  while  not  less  than  I  WO  000  Ish 
sh.i.ped  to  Chicago  and  .Milwaukee.  '  '"''  *""" 


f 


17 


-n  nearly 
'  of  sili- 
3sphorii8, 
•on.  No 
dges,  are 
inand  in 
e  mixed 
ibination 

re  bene- 
^\2;ion  of 
It  to  the 

over  50 
'i  trans- 
le  head 

Choco- 

This  is 
ding  an 
voyage 
naviga- 

water- 
^8 ;  and 
rcourse 


devel- 
iula  of 
xtent. 
3ult  of 
It  one 
ed  at 
n  the 
rings, 

been 
hville 

were 


GOLD  DEPOSITS   OF   THB   EOCKT    MOCNTAnvS. 

Recent  geological  explorations  wonld  seem  to  indicate  that  the 
north,  and  from  longitude  102°  to  fha  p     •«  ' 

breadth  of  1  Too  r^M      ,       '  ''"'"'"'"  ^^^-''^^^^  «^'  ^^^^tude,  or  a 
square  miles      17!!^'  "''''^'"f /"  ^^'^^  «*   "^o^e  than  1,000,000 

lateral  spurs,  crossed  and  h^o!,   1',"""*';  ":"""'"*"-'"y  ""d   i« 

In  adkio;  to  goiitviinXr  M:^ir  i:™!  '■ 'T 

In  .he  Sahnon  river  district,  the  yi  idof '  oM  ft  H  "  ' 
year  is  estin.ated  at  $20,000,000;  ^^.^^  ^:,rTZ 
regjon  ,s  e3t,„,ated  by  the  Co.nn.issioner  at  $,00,0    ,oVo  " 

These  figures  seem  startling,  when  it  is  considered  tha    «rior  ,. 

must  he  e„,ployed  to  p,„„p,  to  lift,  to  cr„  i?  t^w^h  an   To    'T"" 
avastvnriety  of  processes  w,deh;,nn,anln:r,:r,^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

a  cheap  water-communication.     It  is  a  n,at ter  of  .leep    n    «t  t^ 

^j^^X:::^''  "^  ^"-^-^^--^  *-;:«:: 

inS    .^^^^^^^^^^^  «'«■•'""«  l'™P""'-s.  and  is^^lam:' 

2 


/// 


\V\ 


18 


COST    OP   TKANSPORTATION-. 

This  subject  has  been  elaborately  investigated  by  McAlpine 
while  State  Engineer  of  New  York,  with  the  following  results 7 

Mlllg  per  ton 

Ocean,  long  voyage /"""'"• 

"      Bhort      "       '.'.'.'.'.'.'..'. 2 

Lakes,  long      ««       ° 

"      short      "       .    .  „ 

TT    ,         .  8  to  4 

Hudson  river 

Mississippi  and  St.  Lawrence 3 

Erie  Canal,  enlarged \ 

Ordinary  canals 

Railroads,  ordinary  grades /'  1 2i  to  1 3i 

Assuming  these  rates  as  being  substantially  correct,  it  will  be  seen 
hat  the  rela  .ve  cost  of  transportation  by  rail,  as    ompa red  w2 
the  other  modes  of  conveyance,  is  as  follows  : 

By  Rail,  over  Ocean  Transportation  . .  ^"  °*"*:  ^'•**''- 

•'     GreatLakes        «•       ...  lUi 

«  „     w „  ' 526  0 

Mississippi  and  St.  Lawrence  Transportation  . . .  .316.6 
Hudson  „ 

II  w     Til-     •    T  •  •  •  t^OO-O 

Illinois  Improvement  u  „.^ , 

<l  <i      1?  •  I        I  *  •  ■  .^ol.i 

i!<rie  canal  enlarged  u  oiKrt 

Ordinary  canal  x  ,  ,^  ^ 

•  •  • .  loU.O 

These  are  the  elements,  from  which  any  one  interested  in  this 
subject,  can  compute  the  practical  effects  upon  the  productive  in 
dustry  of  the  country,  and  the  enlarged  area  it  will  give    ocX 
vauon      the  result  of  increased  avenues  of  communication  between 
the  M,ss,ss,pp.  and  the  sea-board.     The  producer  will  haveTw 
n.ot.ves  to  multiply  his  crops,  while  to  the  consumlr  I  ,  bl  hell 
.«ut  the  prospect  of  cheap  bread.     Viewed  in  its  true  light,  the 
Ra  Iroad  interest  can  interpose  no  valid  objection.     With  if,d„s  rv 
active  and  remunerative,  travel  will  incr/ase,  as  well  as  the  tZ 
sump  ion  of  those  articles  which  require  a  rapid  transit,  and  for 
which  this  mode  of  conveyance   is  specially  adapted.      The  re 
sources  devetopod  along  the  lines  of  communication  will  more  than 
compensate  for  any  loss  of  through  traffic,  and  the  cp.mbrtm 

'tartir'n^""  ^"""""^  '■'"'''  "-<"-  *•-  -~ 


19 


aaAvs  iNxioKv 


/^/ 


00 


s 


5 

»- 

91 

5 

■^ 
g 

246.6 

■ — 

o 
u 

V 

•«« 
"O 

tJ 

9 


1   ■! 


\\\ 


20 


To  illustrate  the  immense  saving  to  be  effected  on  the  cost  of 
transportation    by  the   opening  of  these  two  enlarged  avenues 
between  the  Mississippi  and  the  sea-board,  the  Committee  have 
compiled   with  great  care,  the  preceding  table,  which  shows  the 
ordinary  freights  by  water,  and  by  rail;  and  what  would  be  the 
actual  cost,  with  a  commodious  water-communication.     The  result 
IS,  as  compared   with   the   summer-rates,  a  saving  of  one-half- 
and,  as  compared  with  the  winter-rates,  a  saving^f  two-thirds.' 
rhese  rates  amount  to  a  virtual  prohibition,  in  ordinary  times,  on 
the  shipment  of  corn,  a  hundred  miles  west  of  Lake  Michigan. 
It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the  actual  cost  of  transporting  a  bushel 

of  corn  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Atlantic,  would  be     13-=- cts 
lo  which  add  two  elevator  charges,       -        .        .       j '" 
Tolls,  say  1^  cts.  on  each  improvement,      -        .  3 


17-2-  cts 
In  the  Chicago  market  in  1861,  between  June  and  December- 
he  most  active  period  of  navigation-the  price  of  corn  vibrated 
between  20c  and  24c.     The  cost  of  transportation  from  the  utZ 
sip,3i  to  Chicago  was  16  cents;  while  the  cost  of  gathering,  shellinc. 
and  hauling  to  a  station,  would  exceed  the  difference  between  the 
rate    for  transportation  and   the    Chicago   price ;    so   tliat    if   a 
person  had  been  gratuitously  offered  a  given  amount  of  corn!  to  be 
gathei-ed  west  of  the  Mississippi,  on  condition  that  he  sent  it  to 
the  Chicago  market,  he  could  not  have  afforded  to  accept  the 

f  on  Inl  ^7':  '^'  ^'"'^^'"  P'^^  ^y  ""^  corporation  on  more  than 
,500,000  bushels  were  15,VV  cents  from  Chicago  to  Buffalo,  and 

biis^l  ^"^  ^""^  ^'''^'  "'^^^"^''  ^"  ^"»  ^2 -^  ^^'"t«  a 

The  subjoined  statement  shows  the  distances  from  some  of  the 
principal  commercial  points,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river  •  also 
the  cost  of  transporting  a  bushel  of  corn,  via  the  improved  water- 
communication  : 


PLACES. 


Ft.  Union... 
St.  Jos"ph  , . 
I'ittsburgh  . . 
St.  Paul  . . . . 
Davenport  . . 
New  Orleans 
Memphis.. . . 
•St.  Louis. . . . 


Distance.  *"'■<'''?*''  *"  Illi- 
nois river. 


HILBS. 

1,9(10 

608 

1193 

634 

319 

1,320 

448 

60 


Freight 
to  New  York. 


CBNTa. 

15  8-10 

4  2-10 
10  2-10 

5  4-10 

2  7-10 
12 

3  8-10 
4-10 


CKNT.S. 

32  6-10 

21  4-10 
27  4-10 

22  6-10 
19  910 
29  2-10 
21 

17  6-10 


t 
P 


21 


keo  are  at  this  time     tJ  '  "'  ^'"""So  i"'I  Milwau- 

-ttlemontint  e  ro;utvofa''r'"',"r"  ""  ''"'"'''  ^■•-"•^'«  o*' 
as  remunerative  a,  do  f„f  ^h  r  '^  J"  "'"•  "'"  "'"^  '"»  ^•'o)" 
the  Lakes.  "  '"'""'^  '^*™«"- "  '""'J'-«=d  miles  from 

settlement,      eh  TlasToTr"'""',,?'"''"'  *°  "Srieultnre  and 
of  this  regioT  P"'"""'"'^  "™  '»  "">  P»«'  '"^tory 

NECESSITY    OF    ADDITIONAL   OUTLETS. 

The  testimony  of  commercial  men  is  concurrent  that  .1,„  „  •  .■ 
avenues  of  communication  between  the  Lakes  and  thl       TT'^ 

navigation,  ^^f:^^^^:^:;^:^^  -- ^f 

of  the  New  Ynrt  .  •^"''  ^''  ''^'^"''^^  5  a"^^  the  locks 

passt;f^^::roV:o:i;r;rtr;i:^^^^^^^^ 

THE   NEW   YORK  CANALS. 

ofTl";:  NttltwL':  '^-P^cipaloutlet  through  which  the  cereals 
are  70  feet  wilr;;:^.  ^  1^  ^^rwiaf  antrn 

yor;ctZirstrvett,utrt'''r"°"  """"^''^'^  --^' 

The  total  tonnage,  its  value,  and  the  tolls  collected  on  the  canals 
during  1862,  were  as  follows  :  ^'' 


/^/ 


Tons. 
6,598,785 


Value. 
$208,234,831 


Tolls. 
1(6,188,943. 


pti  cent,  within  the  past  four  years. 


'  i  3 


m 


\'<\ 


22 


STATEMENT  SHOWmo  THE  EASTWARD-BOUND  TRAFFIC  OF  THE  ERIE  AND   THAM 
PLAIN  CANALS  FOR  FOUR  YEARS  ENoiNG  1^1    ^        "^  ''^'''^' 


YEARS. 

1859. 

ISttO. 

1861. 

1862. 

Tons 

2,121,672 
$53,175,312 

2,854,877 
I'78,798,617 

2,980,144 
181,332,759 

__ 

Value . 

3,402,709 

__ 

$111,176,568 

The  proportion  between  Wa^  and  Through  traffic  was  about  1  8 
Turning  to  wheat,  it  will  be  found  that  less  than  one-tenth  was 

nrll  ^tr^^r  '^'"  '""^-^^^^^^  were  drawn  from  the  granaries 
ot   the  North- West. 

STATEMENT   SHOWING  THE   MOVEMENT  OF  FLOUR    THROUGH    THE    NEW    YORK 
CANALS  TO  TIDE-WATER  FOR  FOUR  YEARS  ENDING  m 
( Wheat  reduced  to  Flour.) 


YEAR. 

Bbls.  West. 

Bbls.  N.  York. 

737,321 
747,822 

Ubls.  arriving 
at  tide-water. 

1859 

2,210,620 
4,344,387 
6,712,233 
7,516,397 

1860 

81,925,402 

1861 

5,081,708 

1862 

7,457,225 

843,685 

8,360,082 

The  following  is  a  statement  of  the  total  receipts  of  flour"  and 
corn-wheat  being  reduced  to  flour-at  tide-water  at  New  York 
for  1862:  ' 


. ... 

Flour,  barrels. 

Com,  bushels. 

ByCanal 

8,360,082 
2,617,923 

By  Rail  

32,670,000 

450,000 

Totals  

10,978,005 

88,120  000 

In  1855,  Mr.  Jarvis,  a  distinguished  engineer  of  Now  York  pre- 
dicted that,  in  fifteen  years,  there  would  be  an  eastward  movement 
of  five  millions  of  tons,  the  surplus  produ       of  the  North-West 
His  prediction  has  been  verified  ri  seven  years,  or  within  one-half 
the  time  assigned. 


i 

■■1 


28 


SfS 


COST    OP   MOVING   THE    CROPS. 

The  amount  of  eastward-bound  tonnage,  including  rtour,  con- 
veyed  over  the  three  principal  trunk  lines  of  railway,  in  1862,  is 
shown  in  the  following  o"*,  i» 

STATEMENT   FROM    OFFICIAL    REPORTS. 

New  York  Central  Railroad '^""\  ,';.'"';:"'• 

New  York  and  Erie  Railroad .'!,'.*.*.*."         471314 

Pennsylvania  Railroad !.!!..!.!!!       .')()2  884 

To  which  add  by  Erie  and  Champlain  Canals S,'402,'709 

'^^^^'' ToT^ 

Now,  if  all  of  these  Western  commodities  were  reduced  to  as 
compact  a  form  as  flour  in  barrels,  and  we  were  to  suppose  that 
thirty  per  cent.,  as  in  the  case  of  the  cereals,  came  from  the  west 
of  Lake  Michigan,  and  thirty  per  cent,  from  east  of  that  lake,  and 
that  the  freights  charged  were  in  proportion  to  those  on  flour,  dur- 
ing the  past  season,  they  would  amount  to  more  than  S56,4U0  000 
as  the  cost  of  transferring  the  annual  products  of  the  Xorth-West 

in  nnrnnn'^'l:-  J'V^'' '^""^^  ^'  ""'^^^^  ^'^^^  froi<^hts  on  about 
$11,000,000,   which    found   their   way  through    Canada.      With 

improved  facilities,  such  as  have  been  proposed,  costing  not  to 

exceed  $17,000,000,  the  saving  in  the  movement  of  a  single  crop 

would  amount  to  $30,000,000. 

CAPACITY   OP   EXISTING   OUTLETS. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  great  thoroughfares  are  fiist 
approaching  their  full  capacity  for  transportation.  The  capacity 
of  the  enlarged  Erie  canal  was  rated  by  McAlpine  at  sevon  million 
tons;  but  this  was  on  the  supposition  that  the  enlaro-od  locks 
would  expeditiously  pass  the  boats.  Already  the  tonna-e  of  the 
mam  hue  and  its  affluents  has  reached  five  and  one-half  "millions 
and  the  voyage,  which  ought  to  be  performed  in  nine  days,  is  pro- 
tracted to  fourteen,  and  even  twenty. 

To  show  that  these  views  are  not  exaggerated,  your  Committee 
beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  statement  of  a  highly  respectable  body  of 
gentlemen,  representing  the  Corn  Exchange  of  New  York,  and  the 
Board  of  Trade  of  Bufi-alo,  submitted  to  "the  joint  Committee  on 


\\\ 


24 


Canals,  o    the  New  York  Legislature,  in  April  last,  in  which  it 

8  shown  that  the  capacity  of  the  locks  has  been  reached  the  past 

season  at      900,000  tons,  and  that  there  is  an  improbability  of 

^creasing  the  movement  of  tonnage  by  increasing  L  number  ^f 

the'It  Ca^  J7  It  ''''  '"'"^  --iderable  portions  of  the  pa,t  three  years, 
lain  trunk  bL;      ?,"  *'"'  *^  '*^  "*'"°«'  ^^P^'^^'  -'  from  defieienc/in  it 
that  whn    t'h!    h        ,    ;  ;-P"«-bility  of  passing  more  boats  through  its  lock 

hundrpH  !  ^'''T"  "^  *'''  '^""'^'^  ""^  «"'«^'«"*  *-  be  navigated  by  boats  of  s  x 
tonst  y  I  lL";h'\'""?  '-'''  ''''''  '^''  boatsof'about'two  hun  red 
were  b[9.t  ';;,.""  ''  '''  ""^'^  '"  '^"^^^'^^  ^'^  ^^  ^^  '7.  ^^e  locks 
In  of  tonnat  f '     J  ""'''^ '''"^  '^^^'^  '^^"''^  ""'  -<=--«  *he  transporta- 

tVatwhlTnT^  ;  ^/^"«°"  ^^'^  'i™t  of  lockage  had  been  already  reached  • 
that  wh.  0  the  channel  of  the  Erie  and  Oswego  canals  (with  resources  .t   ommand) 

the  ca  1  :  v.:  ""''  '"  *'^  transportation  of  twenty  millions  of  tuns  nZ  y' 
the^capacty  of  the  present  locks  had  been  reached  the  present  season  at  2,900  000 

boats  in  usp  in  isftn\    „„*  *u     ,     ,  .ncreose  ot  1,469  over  the  number  of 

With  singular  exemption  from  break.,  were  brought  ud  to  »  1 1 7  n«<i  I  !u 

period-an  increase  unon  1  fifth  .f  i  ««o       ,      "^"^  "P  *°  '^^^  ^'-^^SS  during  the  same 

number  of  bo  trriTl  sh  n  d    a      \  ■  "'''  "'^'^""'^^  '^^'^'  *'"  '"^^^"^^ 

.»  late  as  wm  tl.atof  le«l  „r  is  T  f  ""'""'  "'""'"""PW  by  ice 

the  „,„„b«r  of  trip,  ,„.de  W  b„„„  ,l„ri  !  ,h     ,hro„  ,„o„  ,     '*"'  "'"■""" 

therefore,  tho  dilTerenees  beuee,,  the  „„„,ber  If  71  7T  l  """"■"""I™! 

the  „„,„ber„f  b„.,,  „„,p|,y„<,    „,,  l,^  J,  ,°'  r'?"     *'"  P'"!'"'"™""  '" 

l>jy~u,   LuiiipareU   Wltll  those  of  IHHO     iniiltlnll.>.l    K„  *J 

average  tonnage  of  ea-.al  boats,  unmistakably  represent  ihll  If  ^    " 

canals  during  that  period.  represent  Ihf  loss  of  tonnage  to  the 

•'  The  Inadequacy  of  the  locks  to  the  present  channel  of  the  canals  was  further 


25 

iHustrated  by  the  many  miles  of  boats  constantly  accumulated  at  Rochester,  v^.lU 

la!*  nf  tK     "     .  "^'*'"  '"'''  ^°  ^^"^^'  *"^  '^'  Syracuse,  at  the  firs;  lock 

ITLI  *^«^.f  "f  0"  «f  the  Oswego  canal,  showing  that  while  these  boats  had 
pas  ed  read.ly  along  the  levels,  they  suffered  detention  only  at  the  locks  ;  thus, 
whUe  ten  to  twelve  days  should  be  ample  time  to  run  a  loaded  boat  from  Buffalo  to 

of  LrL  ;• 'f  !r"  *'  *"^"*-^-*^«  "«  °°-  required,  consequently,  a  loss  in  time 
01  nearly  thirty-three  per  cent." 

MULTIPT/xCa.T:OIf  OP   RAILROADS   AN    INADEQUATE    RELIEF. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  trunk  lines  of  railway  can  accom- 
modate  this  growing  commerce,  for  the  reasons,  first,  that  it  will 
not  bear  this  expensive  transit;   and  second,  that  with  their  large 
passenger-business,  and  fast  freight-lines,  for  the  conveyance  of 
merchandise  and  perishable  articles,  such  as  fresh  meats,  vegeta- 
bles   etc,  constituting  the   daily  food  of  the  great  cities,    they 
combined  could  not  convey  eastward  an  additional  million  of  tons. 
Ihe  four   great  American  outlets,  then,  (the  New  York  canals, 
the    New    York    Central,     Erie,    and    Pennsylvania    railways) 
have  a  capacity,  at  the  highest  estimate,  to  accommodate  only 
about  two  and  one-half  additional  millions  of  tons ;  and  that,  too, 
m  view  of  an  eastward-bound  commerce  through  those  channels 
whose  increase  will  at  an  early  day  reach  theVuU  limits  of  their 
capacity. 

These  facts  demonstrate  the  absolute  necessity  of  additional 
outlets— cheap,  commodious  and  expeditious-for  Western  com- 
modities,  or  production,  up  to  the  point  already  attained,  must 
cease. 

To  relievo  the  existing  glut  in  transportation,  it  has  been  pro- 
posed  to  construct  additional  railways. 

When  railroads  were  first  introduced,  it  was  supposed  by  many 
that  they  would  supersede  canals  ;  and  that  expe<litiou8  transport, 
though  at  an  increased  cost,  would  counterbalance  the  cheapness 
of  water-communication.     Experience,  however,  ha«  shown  that 
this  supposition  was  fallacious,  and  the   relative  advantages  of 
those  two  mo-Jes  of  transport  are  now  fully  un.k'rstood  ;  and  per- 
haps, there  is  no  more  striking  example  of  this  than  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  where  the  Central  railroa<l  and  the  Erie  canal  stretch 
coterminous  through  that  State.     The  one  is  employed  for  the 
expeditious   transportation  of   passengers,   of  perishable  articles 
"■i a  5,m..vaiai.c  (.^unsuiupuon,  and  or  xhuHti  to  which  an  en- 


/^/» 


,  II---        -^       \>'J        >f   IIIVII 

hanced  value  has  been  communicated  by  the  industry  of 


man 


•\^\ 


26 

the  other  for  those  crude  and  bulky  articles,  which,  in  the  absence 
of  canals,  would  yield  little  or  no  return.  In  the  one  case,  time 
becomes  an  element  of  value,  for  which  the  consumer  is  content  to 
pay;  m  the  other,  it  is  a  matter  of  slight  importance 

The  Committee  have  already  shown  that,  under  the  existing  rates 
of  transportation,  the  export  of  corn  is  bounded  by  the  western 
shoreof  Michigan;  but  with  an  improved  water-communication" 
It  would  be  extended  to  the  farthest  confines  of  settlement.  Now 
If  the  corn  of  the  Western  farmer,  when  charged  with  freights' 
through  a  water-communication,  of  twenty-five  cents  a  bushel 
between  Chicago  and  New  York,  yields  him  no  profit;  if  his 
wheat  charged  also,  with  twenty-seven  cents  a  bushel,  is  excluded 

what  relief  IS  It  to  h.m  to  construe  additional  modes  of  convey- 
ance  on  which  the  charges  are  100  per  cent,  higher  than  by  the 
existing  routes  ?  f  J'  ""« 

EASTERN  DEPENDENCE  ON  WESTERN  BREAD-STUFFS. 

The  cereals  of  the  North-West  having  found  their  way  to  New 
rork,  It  IS  proper  to  trace  their  distribution  ;-to  show  how  much  is 
required  to  feed  the  inhabitants  of  the  sea-board,  and  how  much 
remains  to  form  the  basis  of  our  foreign  commerce 

By  the  census  returns  of  i860,  it  appears  that  New  England 
raises  wheat  barely  sufficient  to  feed  her  population  throe  w^eks; 

wlX  ni  '•'I';  "'""'''''  Pennsylvania  is  about  self-sustaining; 
while  Olno  yields  a  surplus  of  less  than  3,000,000  bushels.  In  these 
States  dunng  the  last  decade,  there  was  a  falling  off  in  the  amount 

in  the  North-West  exceeded  55,000,000  bushels. 

FOREIGN   EXPORTATION. 

Nnt?w  "r';'^'"^"^  '^'"  deficiencies  of  the  sea-board  States,  the 
North-^^  est  has  a  surplus  of  bread-stuffs  and  provisions  for  export- 
ation, which,  in  four  years  has  increase<l  in  value  from 
$38,300,000  to  ^,22,050,000,  which  is^exelusive  of  specle-nearly 

$11,100,04.,  largely  gram,  which  went  out  through  Cana<la, 
making  the  aggregate  over  $133,750,000.  .  This  is  shown  by  the 
annexed  statement  taken  from  the  reports  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
1 ruasury. 


!  absence 
ase,  time 
ontent  to 

ing  rates 
western 
nication, 
■     Now, 
freights, 
bushel, 
' ;  if  his 
xcluded 
famine, 
convey- 
by  the 


0  New 
nuch  is 
T  much 

ngland 
vceks ; 
lining ; 

1  these 
imount 
icrease 


!8,  the 
xi)ort- 
from 
nearly 
luhled 
mad  a, 
»y  the 
)f  the 


f 


27 


/^/ 


STATEMENT  SnOWIXO  THE  VALUE  OP  THE  DOMESTIC  EXPORTS  OF  THE  UVITFD 
STATES,  EXCLUDING  SPECIE,  FOR  THE  LAST  FOUR  Y^.rs 


ARTICLES. 


Total  Exports 

Bread-stuflTs  and  Provisions  . 

Domestic  Exports  to  Canada 
(largely  grain) 


Foreign  Exi)orts. 


YEAR  ENDING  JUNE  80. 


1859. 


$278,392,080 
88,805,991 

21,769,627 
6,384,547 


1860. 


$816,242,428 
46,271,850 

11,264,590 
2,918,524 


1861. 


$204,166,299 
94,866,786 

11,016,664 
2,606,786 


1803. 


$181,876,988 
122,650,043 

11,100,069 


These  .statistics  show  that  the  export  of  bread-stuffn  and  pro- 
visions m  two  years  increased  nearly  180  per  cent,  in  value,  and  in 
three  years,  220  per  cent. 

MATERIAL   PROSPERITY    OF   NEW   YORK. 

This  vast  mass  of  vegetable  and  animal  food,  moving  from  the 
West  to  the  East,  with  all  the  regularity  of  an  ocean-current,  has 
enriched  the  region  along  its  route.     It  has  been  the  main  source 
of  revenue  to  the  New  York  canals  and  railways.     It  is  the  prin- 
cipal mine,  from  which  New  York  city  has  derived  her  opulence 
and  commercial  greatness.     The  highlands  of  the  Hudson  are  the 
gateways  of  a  commerce,  such  as  Venice,  in  her  palmiest  days 
never  dreamed  of.     She,  not  simply  by  her  geographical  position, 
but  by  the  extended  system  of  internal  improvements,  constructed 
by  the  State  and  public  corporations,  has  been  enabled  to  exact 
tribute  upon  nearly  every  article,  whether  produced  or  consumed 
by  the  North- West;  upon  the  raw  material,  as  well  as  tlie  manu- 
lactured   fabric ;    upon   the    proceeds    of  the    outward    voya-e. 
as  well  as  the  return  cargo.     She  has  made  herself  the  connectiTicr 
link  between  two   continents ;  the  centre  to  which  converge  all 
the  great  Iiucn  of  trade  ;  the  mart  to  receive  and  distribute  the 
miports  and  exports  of  a  continent. 

The  Committee  might  go  further,  and  show  how  much  more 
iuti  u.>t:  I.,  ^,cw  loiK-nas  buen  her  commerce  in  corn,  than  in 
cotton ;  how  the  one,  from  the  time  it  started  from  the  hanks  of 


^^\ 


28 


the  Mississippi,  until  it  arrived  at  the  sea-board,  scattered  riches  in 
Its  path ;  how  the  other,  leaving  a  Gulf  port,  simply  touched  at 
New  York,  and  then  departed  for  some  English  mart,  leaving 
behind  no  substantial  benefit.  The  one  is  like  a  noble  river, 
fertilizing  the  region  through  which  it  flows;  the  other  as  barren 
as  the  ocean  on  which  it  floats. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  public  sentiment  requires,  and  has  a 
right  to  demand,  that  the  State  of  New  York  shall  hold  this  great 
thoroughfare-this  connecting  link  between  the  East  and  the  West- 
not  for  local  aggrandizement,  or  State  revenue,  but  as  the  trustee 
ot  the  nation ;  and  impose  only  such  tolls  on  commerce  as  shall  be 
required  to  preserve  the  integrity  of  the  work,  and  ultimately  pay 
the  cost  of  construction.  ^ 

FOREIGN     DEMAND    FOR   THE    SURPLUS   OP   THE   NORTH-WEST. 

The  question  of  demand  and  supply  remains  to  be  considered  • 
whether  the  European  nations  will  require  Western  bread-stuff's  and 
provisions  only  to  a  limited  extent,  and  that,  therefore,  production 
up  to  that  point,  must  cease  ;  or  whether  they  will  absorb  our  surl 
plus,  however  great  In  reply,  it  may  be  stated  as  a  general  truth, 
that  there  is  not  an  instance  in  human  history,  so  closely  does  popu- 
lation press  on  the  means  of  sustenance,  of  a  vast  accumulation  of 
lood,  beyond  the  wants  of  consumers. 

28Jonn'nnn'"?^?"^''^'"  '^  '^''  ^"'"P^'*"  ^'^'''  '''  '"'^^^'^^  ^t- 
280,000,000,  of  whom  150,000,000  are  consumers  of  cereals  to  the 

amount  of  nearly  1,000,000,000  of  bushels.     The  means  to  further 
production  are   limited   by  the   obstacles  interposed  by   nature 
against   which   it  is   in   vain   for   man  to  contend,-inlLpitable' 
mountains,  barren  wastes,  and  irreclaimable  marshes.     The  most 
serious  obstacle,  therefore,  to  the  increase  of  population  will  be 
the  limits  placed  on  the  production  of  human  food  ;  but,  through 
«ie  equalizing  effects  of  commerce,  it  is  safe  to  presume  that  there 
Wll^  at  all  times,  exist  an  active  demand  for  our  surplus  bread- 
8  uff-s,  in  exchange  for  the  peculiar  products  of  their  soil,  climate, 
and  industry  ;  and  this  demand  will  keep  pace  with  the  density  of 
their  population.     Speculations,  therefore,  as  to  the  probability  of 
glutting  the  foreign  market  seem  idle  and  misplaced. 

The  dependence  of  Great  Britain  upon  foreign  supplies  each 
year  becomes  more  apparent.  In  1855,  it  amounted  to  60.02  per 
cent.,  and  ui  1860,  it  rose  to  88  per  cent. 


29 


STATEMENT,  FROM  OFFICIAL  SOURCES,  SHOWING  THE  AMOUNT  OF  WHEAT  AND 
OTHER  GRAIM,  AND  FLOUR,  IMPORTED  FROM  THE  UNITED  STATES  AND  OTHER 
COUNTRIES  INTO  THE  UNITED  KINGDOM  OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  FOR  FOUR  YEARS 


S99 


WHEAT, 


1808. 

Qri. 

594,644 

8,647,076 

1809. 

I860. 

Qrs. 

1,499,886 
4,881,678 
6,880,963 

1861. 

United  States 

Qn. 

86,906 
8,964,016 

Qrs. 

Other  Countries 

2,607,744 

4,406,071 

4,241,719 

4,000,922 

6,912,816 

GRAIN— OTHER  KINDS. 


United  States.  . 

Other  Countries. 

Total 


Qrs. 

899,807 
6,646,739 


6,946,646 


Qrs. 

9,948 
6,307,818 
5,817,76r 


Qrs. 

475,173 
6,649,484 
7,125,662 


Qrs. 

1,779,652 
6,58fi,5S7 
7,360,289 


GRAIN-ALL  KINDS. 


United  States... 
Other  Countries, 

Total  Cwt.  . 

In  Quarters. 


Owt. 

1,764,796 
2,091,832 
8,856,127 
1,101,750 


Cwt. 

216,462 
8,111,862 
8,828,824 

»60,949 


FLOUR. 


Cwt. 

Cwt. 

2,254,288 

8,795,866 

2,881,983 
6,086,220 

2,863,073 
6,152,988 

1,453,206 

1,767,982 

United  States 

Qrs. 

1,098,871 
4,244,608 
6,348,469 

Qrs. 

98,762 
4,868,119 
4,961,871 

Qrs. 

2,143,461 
6,190,718 
7,834,164 

Qrs. 

Other  Countries 

8,591,991 

Total 

6,078,806 

8,670,797 

GRAIN  AND  MEAL 


United  States 

Qrs. 

1,600,481 
9,793,224 

Qrs. 
109,276 
10,161,499 
10,270,774 

Qrs. 

2,624,006 
11,873  971 
i4,4vT,a70 

Qrs. 

Other  Countries 

6,39S,170 

Grand  Total 

10,«!W,788 

16,094,014 

1  J   :| 


■    A 


% 


'^\  30 

Wheat,  Quarf era 

Indian  Corn,  Quarters. .....'.".' 9,542,369 

Flour,  Cwt...  2,751,261 

7,314,331 

CONTINENTAL   SOURCES   OF   SUPPLY. 

Baltic      The  wheat  ,8  raised  in  Galicia  and  Poland,  from  five  to 
seven  hundred  miles  inland,  and  brought  to  the  sea-board  inflat 
bottomed  boats  suited  to  the  navigation  of  rivers  usually   hoa 
and  abounding  m  rapids,-a  mode  of  conveyance  both  tedious  and 
,  expensive,  costing  from  0,.  ed.  ($1.66),  to  I  U.  (te.20     per  „uar 

/  ter  to  place  ,t  at  Da„t.io.     These  rates  would  be  from  16  cents 

"   ippi  an^d'i  it";ri'^^''?'r" ""'"  '"^  -^^^^  -^^'-^  ^^^^- 

sippi  and  the  Atlantic,  with  an  improved  navigation 

Dn1:w  „^T  '""'■'"  "''  '"PP'y  ''  "">  ^^-^^  Sea  ports.  The 
Dneistor  the  Dneiper,  the  Don  and  Volga  are  navigable  but 
abound   in  shoals  and  rapids.     Wheat  is   sent   to    Odes  a  and 

waZnX  teTf  "'"T '  """  "^  "'"■^'  "  ''  •^^-«'>' '»  -■"«"» 
waggons,  often  from  a  distance  of  many  hundred  miles. 

The  route  between  Odessa  and  Liverpool  is  circnitous  and  con 

snmes  as  much  time  as  is  required  to  cross  the  Atlantic      It  is 

necessary  that  the  voyage  be  performed  in  the  wk    r    e 'son   in 

consequence  of  the  heated  waters  of  the  Mediter    nean     f";    t 

often  happens  that  cargoes  of  wheat  arriving  in  summei  haU  to  be 

removed  with  the  pick-axe.    The  price  on  b^oard  at  Od  sLclnsid 

In  180 1,  England  imported  grain  of  all  kinds— 
From  Southern  Russia. . . 
From  the  Baltic...  1,282,127  qra. 

Fi^m  British  Americ;;  V 'e;;^s;d:r;b,e  p^ni;,^' of  ^Hi^h  'w^s  ''"''''''  " 
derived  from  the  United  States 

From  the  United  States  1,188,839  •♦ 

5,3'J8,176  " 

From  no  other  country  did  she  derive  a  tnillion  <|„arters. 

ABILITY   TO   OOMPETK    WITH   FOBEION   MAKKETS. 

The  average  English  price  of  wheat  for  the  last  quarter  of  . 
century,  has  been  54.  U.  per  imperial  quarter  of  TJl'birwhicb 


Gazette^ 


,359 
,261 
,331 


'i  on  the 
[1  five  to 
i  in  flat- 
ly shoal, 
ious  and 
»er  quar- 
16  cents 
3  Missis- 

s.  The 
ble,  but 
ssa  and 
arket  in 

nd  con- 
.  It  is 
ison,  in 
1  for  it 
^•e  to  be 
consid- 
rtiug  is 


iT  qrs. 

3  " 

9  " 

6  '« 


r  of  a 
which 


31 

would  be  equivalent  to  $1.42  for  an  American  bushel.  The  conti- 
nent.! pnce  IS  6.  6^.  less,  that  being  the  cost  of  transportation  to 
England  per  quarter,  which,  on  an  American  bushel,  would  equal 
•I'^yy  cents. 

Now,   with   an  improved    water-communication,   the    cost    of 
shipping  a  bushel  of  wheat  from  the  Mississippi  to  New  York 
and  thence  to  Liverpool,  would  be—  ' 

By  Canala,  Lakes  and  Rivera  ....  ^*"''- 

Tolls,  say "* ^"^'^ 

Three  Elevator-charges .......*.*.. ^  ^ 

Insurance  and  Commissions ,,,, "'' 

Ocean,  3,160  miles,  at  $5  per  ton.  ...\..\ ,\\ 

15.0 

Cost  to  Liverpool ~~_ — 

Where  it  would  be  worth , /** 

142.0 

Netting  to  the  Shipper "■ — 

To  which  add  Premium  on  Exchange  !!!....!]!'..'*'] .' .' ."".""  ^l*o  ? 

Making 

^  11.17.3 

Which  would   be   a  discrimination  of  only  8  cents  against  the 
American  producer,  as  compared  with  the  continental  i,rice,  and 
would  make  the  average  price  of  wheat  $1.06  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi ;  $1.00  at  St.  Paul;  and  80  cents  at  Fort  Union  ^ 
When  we  consider  the  character  of  the  wheat-growing  region 
of  the  North- West,  the  cheapness  of  the  lands,  the  lertility  of  the 
soil,  and  the  facility  with  which  it  is  cultivated, -that  all  of  the 
processes  of  sowing,  reaping,  harvesting,  binding,  threshing  and 
wmnowing,  are  done  expeditiously  by  machinery,  the  American 
farmer  may  successfully  enter  the  lists  of  European  competition 
and  contend  for  a  monopoly  of  the  provision-market  of  the  world' 
He  need  not  depend  on  any  accidental  deficiency  in  the  crops  of 
i^urope,  but  rely  on  a  nearly  unvarying  market  for  all  his  surplus 
crops   abroad.     This  traffic   in  h.iman  food  will  prove  a  greater 
power  than  ever  cotton  was,  and  give  us  a  strength,  and  position 
atTdn^^d      ^''^'''"'       ^'''' ^^'^^'  ^'''  above  what  we  have  already 

The  Committee  have  thus  imperfectly  sketched  the  great  features 
of  this  commerce;  but,  in  traversing  a  field  so  vast,  have  been 
compelled  to  leave  out  many  subordinate  details.  The  facts  ad- 
duced .how  how  essential  the  construction  of  these  works  is  to  the 
tuture  prosperity  of  the  North-West,  and  to  the  whole  country. 


4^/ 


\^v 


32 


I 

!'■ 
I* 
if 


IMPORTANCE  OF  A  SHIP-CANAL. 


The  Comnnttee  have  thus  adverted  to  the  magnitude  of  the 
products  of  the  North- West,  the  burdens  to  which  they  are  sub- 
jected in  their  passage  to  the  sea-board,  and  the  extent  to  which 
they  enter  into  our  external  commerce,  and  contribute  to  the 
national  wealth.  While  almost  every  other  industrial  interest  of 
the  country,_the  coal  and  iron  of  Pennsylvania,  the  manufactur- 
ing of  New  England,  and  the  salt  of  New  York,-is  protected  by 
discriminating  duties  of  thirty  per  cent.,  we  search  the  statute- 
book  in  vain  for  any  legislation,  which  tends  directly  in  aid  of 
agriculture— the  main-spring  of  all  our  prosperity. 

It  is  proposed  to  consider  this  question  in  three  aspects,  viz.  ; 

I.    NATIONAL, 

As  tending  to  bind  together  different  parts  of  the  Union  and 
umtmg  the  people  by  the  ties  of  mutual  interests  and  social  con- 
nections ;  and  as  developing  the  resources  of  distant  regions  and 
thereby  contributing  to  the  national  greatness. 

II.    COMMERCIAL, 

As  affording  a  cheap  and    expeditious    communication   between 
regions  widdy  separated,  and  as  admitting  of  a  free  interchange 
ot  the  products   of  different  climes,   and  of  different  industries 
giving  activity  to  labor,  and  a  profitable  return  to  capital. 

in.    MILITARY, 

As  connected  with  the  defense  of  the  country,  using  such  a  commu- 
nication as  a  means  of  transferring  gun-boats  from  one  system  of 
waters  to  another,  and  of  rapidly  concentrating  them  at  points 
widely  asunder,  thus  making  a  small  armament  as  efficient  as  a 
large  one. 


33 


4^S 


NATIONAL  ASPECTS. 

C0.VST1TBT10NAL  POWEE   OF    C0NGKES8. 

Welfaue.  I'iFEssE,  and  to  promote  the  Genkbai 

Mr.  Jefferson,  in  1801,  on  assuming  the  duties  oftl,„P     •, 
announced  as  among  the  leading  ol.i:ets  of  he  r^f,  r!  ^'■''    '"''^' 
encouragement  of  a<mculturo  and  !f  Constitution-"  the 

Mr.  Madison,  the°Fathe  of  the  r°T'"'''"''  '"  handmaid." 
ealled  to  the  ame  exalted  -  V  ^""^*"»"»".  "•  1809,  when 
tion,_",o  promote  bvtthori!,"'  """'■.•"*  "  ^""''*^  ''»<"»^a- 
to  agriculture,  trma'n,  Itur  s  a^d"::'  ™r"7-"^  '■'endly 
commerce;"  and  in  181«  h»  n  ",  .  "'"""''■  """^  '"<«««' 
to  the  imp'ortanc;  of  d  luin.  a  on  ^  ''"'""'"'  °'  ^°"^-- 
and  canals,  "  such  as  shtlh  ve  the  eZf  If'T"  "'"■""  "''  ™"''' 
together,  every  part  in  the^Z         "'"^"f  "^ '''""""g  "'ore  closely 

As  far'back  Jmr  1  be  t  Garar'"      "'  r''°'"'  P-P-ity-" 
and  sagacious  of  our^tllet    r^:^^^^ 
submitted  an  elaborate  report  to  the  IZTl  thl  ;'"""''^' 

oonstrncting  roads  and  canik  hv  .1.    n  importance  of 

affording  speedy  and  ea  ;  c  mmu  L^i::  W^  "  ^  ""■"'■'  °^ 
of  the  country,  to  facilitat'e  ^oZ:^^Z2ZZ-rT  ""'' 
and  to  nnite  the  people  by  a  still  ,no„  P'"»on.>I  intercourse, 
interests.  In  that  repon  he  state  "Zoh"'','  ''-'m™"nity  of 
ernment  can  more  effectually  tend  ,  ^°°""='- "^'-'S'^Powerof  goy. 
that  nnion,  which  slcureelrn^?  "  i  '''""" f'"^  "'"'  P^l'ofate 
and  internLl  liberty."  '"-J^'endonce,  domestic  peace. 

There  has,  from  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution   existed  ,  ., 
of  men  who  yiewed  with  extreme  distrust  eyerre^S  'f  „    ''' 

:;-t''^i;fs:rertrcmr'-  '^^  ^'-^^^^^^^ 
territories,  to  remT;  i:::^:::^:^^;^::^'^  "^'-^^ 

or  to  deyelop  particular  branches  of  dC^^e  l""""""' 
nounced  unconstitutional;  while  on  ,h„  „m  ^,'  ,  ^'-'™  P™" 
to  fortify  the  the  approach'esTotlrt;  o,"  t:  ^^^^Cr^ 
an  efficient  navy,  and  to  maintain  a  weli-d hcinl i,  d  n,  T'^ 
been  denounced  as  a  wasteful  expenditure  f„;''l,'2'cv  "7 
of  the  Last  two  years  have  t„„„i,f ...  „  ,..  .:..       ^   Jl'it  the  events 


Pl1t«q      I 


i^^ijc  JD  iiuL  an 


'  years  have  taught  us  a  far  different  I 

;-rrr:/i":'' '''r--^.  »'• "'-  nations  ".hrhr: 


esson;   and  that 


preserved  their  integrity  only  by  the  stron 


arm  of  power. 


34 

"  To  govern  an  extended  empire,"  using  the  words  of  Gibbon, 
with  a,  slight  alteration,  "  requires  a  refined  system  of  policy  ;  in 
the  centre,  a  strong  power,  prompt  in  action  and  rich  in  resources; 
a  swift  and  easy  communication  with  the  extreme  parts ;  fortifica- 
tions to  check  the  first  effort  of  rebellion  ;  a  regular  administration 
to  protect  and  punish  ;  and  a  well-disciplined  army  to  inspire  fear, 
without  producing  discontent  and  despair." 


'% 


THIS   POWER    REPEATEDLY   EXERCISED. 

This  power  has  been  repeatedly  exercised  by  Congress ; — for 
example,  in  the  construction  of  the  National  Road,  which  was  the 
first  commodious  channel  of  communication  between  the  Valley  of 
the  Mississippi  and  the  sea-board ;  in  subscriptions  to  various  canals, 
— the  Louisville  and  Portland,  the  Delaware  and  Chesapeake,  the 
Potomac  and  Ohio,  and  the  Dismal  Swamp  canals ;  and  more 
recently  in  the  munificent  grant  of  bonds  and  lands  in  aid  of  the 
construction  of  the  Pacific  railroad; — a  measure  called  for  by  every 
consideration  of  national  unity,  internal  commerce,  and  military 
defense. 

NATIONALITY   OF   THIS   COMMERCE. 

The  commerce  which  floats  upon  a  river  like  the  Mississippi, 
draining  half  a  continent ;  or  upon  the  Great  Lakes,  whose  shore- 
lines are  longer  than  those  of  the  sea-board  States;  or  is  poured 
through  an  artificial  channel  like  the  New  York  canal,  is  as  much 
national  as  that  which  is  wafted  over  the  Atlantic.  When  it  is 
shown  that  eight-ninths  of  the  cereals  are  derived,  not  from  a 
single  State, but  from  a  group  of  States;  and  are  moving, not  to  a 
local  market,  but  to  the  markets  of  the  world ;  furnishing  to  the 
navigating  interest  the  outward-bound  freight  as  well  as  the  return 
cargo,  and  conferring  a  direct  benefit  on  the  national  finances; 
and  when  the  proceeds  of  these  products  are  traced  through  all  the 
ramifications  of  trade,  it  is  evident  that  it  is  not  simply  the  citizen 
of  one  State,  but  the  Western  producer,  the  consumer  at  home  and 
abroad,  the  navigator,  the  importer,  the  consumer  of  foreign  fabrics, 
and  the  Government  itself,  all  have  a  direct  interest  in  the  result. 

It  is  a  measure  whose  benefits  are  not  to  be  circumscribed  by 
State  lines,  but  one  which  connects  three  distinct  systems  of  navi- 
gation, and  renders  them  available  for  external  and  internal  com- 
merce, for  national  unity,  and  military  defense. 

Every  one  is  aware  how  largely  the  topographical  features  of  a 
country  influence  its  inhabitants  in  their  social  habits,  their  modes 


sr, 


4^/' 


m 


of  thought,  and  business  pursuits.     The  words  of  r. 

a  fund  of  political  philosophy  :  ""^  ^^'"P"'  "^"^'-^^^ 

"  Lands  intersected  by  a  narro«r  frith 
Abhor  each  other.     Mountains  interposed 
Make  enemies  of  nations,  who  had  else 
Like  kindred  drops,  been  mingled  into  one." 

ties !f  a  comW:,:LT:h:h' tT  '"V""'"^  ""  '""P'^  •'^  "- 

under  the  ,noat  pre^sfngll'.^. ''"^  "'"  """'""'  '"  '-^  -% 

HOW   TO    CONDUCT    A   LONG    WAR. 

*5S:oo7or;o:':t.?r;e''t^'"""' '''-'"' "»'  -^  •- 

is  the  price  which  muTh?  Z  T  "'"  ""''"""^  '"""^'-o'-  I* 
unity.  "^ Taxes  a  e  ^s  eLed  ■■"  i  ?"'<="»'■""  »f  ""r  national 
utes  to  the  wante  or  the  .^  ^  """'^  "'''''"  ">•■"  """'"b" 

mnltifarious  r'taxthed^r"r"'  "'"'•■  "^""''^ '  """'  ■">-=-- 
eoureesalone  -the  wa!ef  f',  k"  '■'"'"""  ''  ''""^-i  f'""'  t'^o 
The  ability  oVthcpeorfL^l:'  ""'  ""  '•«-^«"'»' capital, 
given  to  labor, a„7hT;rofitabL  T'""  '"P™'^  ""  ""^  '-"'<• 
therefore,  that'  the  nufraTtSr^I^r/cr';!:^''  '"'  ""''' 
extent,  for  the  purpose  of  sustainin^the  wa    "  fa    fromr-"'  "" 

srrthT:;rjrf"T  4  '"^  -^^-"^  »^ '~ — 
must  be  ma:;r  rs::!:":;:;:''  '""^  ^"^-^  '^  --''■  ^'-  ->• 

ity'onr  No.r  ani'^r:  ■"  'r  """'^^^  '^  "■»  «•=--'  P-Por. 

one  section,  commerce  i    ft""'  .T'^'"  "'  "■"  «»"*•     J"  "'« 

almost  unexampled   nroBertv?"'  '  \"  ''""''"'^'  ""''  *^g«^  "■■-= 

migration  has  not  fal'len  „ff    ^  is  constantly  advancing  i„  value,  i.n- 

tivts  in  every  b  a"  h  nf  •  ^7'!     '"" ''  '""'•""""»•  ^^'"'^  "'«  »1  "■■-- 
mining-a;:'Lt:i?o':^r^^^^^^^^^^  ■7"f--  and 

exhibits  a  forlorn  asnect       °  P'"': ,  ""  "«^  »"«''•  hand,  the  South 

tion  reigns  supreme  wither™  "'.t  JT""'  "''"■"'"■>  '^-"l- 
the  Mifsissip^  r^rSss  Z  "the  r/""' """°'""^' "™'' 
principal  ports  blockaded'  the 7^  .Is  c,^  JT'  .', ''""'  ""^" 
of  the  world      Their  ^nt,„       I         •  "  ''°'"  ""=  markets 


\^^ 


36 


capital  crying  aloud  for  bread.  Villages  are  depopulated,  refugees 
flock  to  the  lines  of  the  army  demanding  protection,  and  food 
commands  almost  fabulous  prices. 

From  the  example  of  Netherlands,  in  her  terrible  but  successful 
struggle  for  nationality,  the  North  can  derive  a  salutary  lesson. 
According  to  the  historian  Motley,  a  war  had  been  raging  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century  without  any  interruption,  population  increased, 
property  rapidly  advanced  in  value,  and  labor  was  in  active  de- 
mand.    Famine  was  impossible  to  a  State  which  commanded  the 
ocean.     No  corn  grew  in  Holland  and   Zeeland,  but  their  ports 
were  the  granary  of  the  world ;  and  in  one  month  eight-hundred 
vessels  left  their  havens  for  Eastern  ports  alone.     While  the  sea- 
ports rapidly  increased  in  importance,  the  interior  towns  advanced 
as  steadily.     The  woolen  manufacture,  the  tapestry,  the  embroi- 
deries of  Gelderland,  and  Friesland,   and  Overyssel,  became  as 
famous  as  had  been  those  of  Tournay,  Ypres,  Brussels,  and  Valen- 
ciennes.    The  immigration  from  other  countries  was  very  great ;  it 
was  difficult  to  obtain  lodgings  in  the  principal  cities ;  new  houses, 
new  streets,  new  towns,  rose  every  day  ;   and  when  the   English 
embassadors  arrived  in  the  Provinces,  they  were  singularly  im- 
pressed by  the  opulence  and  magnificence  which  surrounded  them. 
The  single  province  of  Holland  furnished  regularly  for  war  ex- 
penses alone,  2,000,000  florins  a  year,  besides  other  extraordinary 
grants,  which  seemed  only  to  make  it  more  elastic.     A  contempo- 
rary remarked  that  "  coming  generations  may  see  the  fortifications 
erected  at  that  epoch  in  the  cities,  the  costly  and  magnificent 
havens,  the  docks,  the  great  extension  of  the  cities ;  for  truly  the 
war  has  become  a  great  benediction  to  the  inhabitants.''^ 

By  the  cultivation  of  such  arts,— domestic  industry  and  external 
commerce,— they  were  enabled  to  carry  on  a  war  for  eighty  years 
and  bring  it  to  a  triumphant  issue. 

In  the  midst  of  a  desolating  war,  Louis  XIV  completed  the  canal 
at  Languedoc,  connecting  the  Mediterranean  with  the  Atlantic, 
which  reflected  more  glory  on  his  reign  than  all  his  military 
conquests. 

Napoleon,  while  combatting  with  all  Europe,  devised  and  execut- 
ed schemes  of  national  importance,  which  conferred  imperishable 
benefits  on  France,  and  which  went  far  to  eiface  the  efiects  of  the 
ravages  of  war. 


37 


4^^ 


COMMERCIAL  ASPECTS. 

There  is  no  measure  which  would  so  materially  benefit  our  exter- 
nal  and  internal  commerce,  as  the  creation  of  a  ship-canal  between 
the  three  great  systems  of  navigation  in  North  America,-the  Mis- 
sissippi, the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Atlantic.     The  Illinois  valley, 
with  a  summit-level  of  only  eight  feet,  and  with  Lake  Michigan 
as  an  unfailing  reservoir,  affords  an  entirolv  feasible  and  practicable 
route ;  and  besides,  what  is  a  remarkable   fact  in  the  physical  ge- 
ography of  the  region,  its  mouth  is  about  the  central  point  of  con- 
vergence of  the  three  great  basins  of  the  Upper  Mississippi,  with 
a  drainage  area  of  1,244,000  square  miles,-the  heart  of  a  -reat 
continental  system,  of  which  the  navigable  and  unnavigable  rtvers 
are  the  arteries  and  veins. 

Another  striking  geographical  fact  is  that,  taking  Memphis  and 
Liverpool  as  initial  points,  this  route  is  found  to  be  in  a  nearly 
direct  line  along  the  great  circle  of  the  earth,  and  is,  therefore,  the 
one  in  which  the  products  of  the  Great  Valley  would  naturally 
move  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  The  New  York  canal  is  con- 
structed through  a  natural  <lepression  of  the  Alleghanies,  the  moPt 
feasible  to  be  found  throughout  their  range  from  Canada  to  Alaba- 
ma. Ihe  North-West  dates  its  prosperity  from  the  time  of  the 
construction  of  this  work,  and  its  enlargement  would  form  an  epoch 
m  a  new  career  of  prosperity,  compared  with  which,  the  past  would 
sink  into  insignificance. 

The  facts  which  have  been  collated  by  the  Committee  show  that 
the  products  of  the  North-West  feed  to  a  large   extent  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  sea-board  States,  and  at  the  same  time  furnish  the  bulk 
of  cargoes  to  our  commercial  marine;  that,  exclusive  of  specie 
they  constitute  in  value  about  7o  per  cent,  of  all  of  our  domestic' 
exports,  and  in  that  proportion,  contribute  to  the  customs-revenue 
in  duty-paymg  articles  for   which  they  are  exchanged  ;  that,  while 
under  the  existing  tariff,  almost  every  other  branch  of  industry  is 
protected  to  the  extent  of  30  per  cent.,  there  has  been  no  legisla- 
tion in  aid  of  bread-stuffs  and  provisions ;  that  the  connecting  of 
these  three  systems  of  navigation,  under    the  constitutional  power 
ot  Congress,  by  a  ship-canal,  while  its  cost  would  not  exceed 
$17,000,000,  would  result  in  a  saving  of  $30,000,000  in  the  move- 
ment of  the  yearly  crops,  to  be  shared  alike  by  the  producer  and 
consumer;  that  its  practical  effect  would  be  to  bring  the  lands  on 
the  outer  verge  of  settlement  2,ooo  miles  nearer  the  sea-board  for 


'•;  ■>  •>i' 


38 


all  the  purposes  of  market ;  that  products,  like  corn,  no^-  almost 
worthless  for  exportation,  wonl.l  be  in  active  demand  ;  that  under 
such  a  stimulus,  the  value  of  the  public  domain  would  be  greatly 
enhanced,  .mm,grat,o„  become  active,  settlement  extended,and  our 
fo,..g„  commerce  swollen  to  an  unprecedented  extent;  ani  finally, 

method  r  ''"*"   "'"   S™"*  '"'"'™'"   '■•"*•'.  "-'"•<■  «n^y 

method  of  earrymg  on  a  protracted  war  is  to  increase  the  produc 
tive  industry  of  the  nation.  ^ 


MILITARY  ASPECTS. 

wlfhT.'^"!""'  ''°°"'"':'  """  """■""™  P"'-"""  of  the  continent, 
w  h  a  territory  coterminous  with  our  own,  stretching  from  the 
Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.     She  has  construcied  a  scries  of    hort 
canals  aronnd  the  rapids  of  <l.e  St,  Lawrence,  with  locks  45  fee 
wide  and  200  feet  long,  and  S  feet  deep ;  and  has  connected  lakes 
tne  and  Ontario  by  the  WcUand  canal,  with  locks  20  feet  wide 
loo  long,  .aud  11  feet  deep,  and  capable  of  ready  enlar.^eraent 
^he   has,   also,   constructed  the  Rideau  canal,   professed^;        a 
military  work   by  an  interior  route,  between  Montreal  and  Kin,.s. 
ton,  wth  locks  33  feet  wide   and  142  long;  and  although  Tie 
channel  is  only  5    feet  deep,  yet  it  is  capable  of  p.assing  a  d^an^er! 
ous  vessel,  when  buoyed  up  by  lighters.  ° 

She  h,as  a  formi.lable  fortress  and  depot  of  military  and  naval 
stores  ,at  Kingston,  on  Lake  Ontario;  another  at  Maiden,  .at  the 
mouth  of  he  Detroit  river;  and  a  third  at  Penetanguishene  on 
Georgian  JSay  ;  besides  forts  more  or  less  impregnable  at  Toronto, 
N,agar.a,  Port  Stanley,  Windsor,  and  Port  Sarnhi.  Most  of  these 
points  are  intersected  by  railways,  by  which  a  large  force  can  be 
rapidly  concentrated. 

To  oppose  these  formidable  preparations,  we  have  a  few  dis- 
mantled   forts    which   a  half-hour's  cannonading  with  im,lv  d 
ordinance  wouM  batter  down,  an,l  which,  from  their  we  kness 
won  di„v„e,  rather  than  deter  att.ack  ;  no  lines  of  water-comniu- 
.cation  by  which  a  war-vessel,  larger  than  a  canal-boat  can  be 
hiwn  into  the  lakes ;  no  naval  or  military  depots  ;  nothing  but  a 
single  steamer  of  100  tons  hnnlen,  mourning  a  single  IS^mmder 
for  .aggressive  or  defensive  purposes;  nor  can  the  number,  under 
he   reaty  stipulations  of  1817,  be  increased  beyond  one  nlorc  on 
the  Upper  Lakes,  one  on  Lake  Ontario,  and  one  cm  Lake  Cham- 
plain.  v.^"aiii 


39 

The  richly-laden  fleets,  bearing  the  commerce  of  half  the 
country  sea-ward,  and  the  populous  cities  and  towns  along  the 
borders  of  the  lakes,  are  at  the  mercy  of  the  invader.  Not  a  gun 
18  mounted  for  their  protection,  nor  is  there  a  harbor  of  retV^e 
four  miles  inland.  ° 

^  It  may  be  a  startling  fact,  but  it  is  nevertheless  true,  that  a 
single  battery  planted  on  the  Virginian  side  of  the  Ohio  river  below 
Pittsburgh,  and  a  single  gun-boat  anchored  near  the  south  shore 
of  Lake  Erie,  have  the  power  to  sever  the  great  arteries  of  com- 
naumcation  between  the  East  and  the  West.  A  slight  interruption 
of  the  calm  regularity  in  the  flow  of  bread-stuff's  eastward,  would 
cause  a  consternation  as  great  as  any  disaster  to  our  arms.  We 
may  repose  in  fancied  security  ;  but  should  such  a  disaster  occur 
succeedmg  generations  would  not  fail  to  brand  as  imbecile,  the 
statesmen  of  this  day,  who  neglected  to  defend  the  nation  in  its 
most  vulnerable  point 


4^/ 


POSSIBILITY   OF   A    RUPTURE. 

A  year  has  scarcely  elapsed  since  England,  in  contemplation  of 
the  possibility  of  a  rupture  with  the  United  States,  began  to  throw 
troops  and  munitions  of  war  into  the  principal  stragetic  points  ;  an 
extended  system  of  fortifications  was  projected,  the  local  mi'litia 
was  enrolled  and  equipped— the  whole  placed  under  tlie  command 
of  one  of  the  heroes  of  the  Crimean  war,— and  the  aristocratic 
organ  of  the  nation,  the  Zondon  Times,  declared  that,  with  the 
opening  of  the  navigation  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  England  would 
throw  into  the  Lakes  such  a  fleet  of  gun-boats  as  would  give  her 
the  command  of  those  waters. 

It  will  be  recollected,  too,  that  Mr.  Seward,  as  Secretary  of 
State,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Governors  of  the  States  bordering 
on  the  Lakes,  calling  upon  them,  in  the  interim  of  Congress,  to  take 
8teps  to  fortify  the  principal  points  of  api.roaeh  °  It  'is  tluis 
apparent,  that  both  governments  regarded  a  rupture  as  inuninent, 
and  took  steps  to  prepare  for  it.  It  is  equally  evident,  that  both 
regarded  the  Lake-frontier  as  the  theatre  of  military  .)peration8 
and  commenced  a  concentration  of  the  materiel  of  war  at  the' 
principal  strngetio  points. 

While  the  happening  of  such  an  event  is  greatly  to  be  de])Iored 
still  it  must  bo  confessed  that  thei-e  aio  yet  in-itating  (puvstions! 
which  may  require  to  be  settled  by  the  arbitrament  of  war.     The 


\^ 


\^ 


40 


fitting  out  in  her  ports  of  ves^Pls  in  ,.. 

the  tacit  knowledge  and  ZIohZZ^''"  °'"  "°"™""^'  ^'''^ 
regarded  by  us,  as  it  ha.  h!  k  I  '^''™'''™™t.  cannot  but  be 
and  i„te,na^onal  cimity        "  '^  ''"'  "  "»'»"»"  "(  public  faith 

bo;^;':,:r:'r'c:n:r::;fo^^ 

naval  stores.  '    ^  "^  ^^  ^""P^ent  of  military  and 

LAKE    DEFENSES. 

our  supremacy  over  them  in  Le  of  tar?  '"^'"  '"  "^'"' 

inlv\;rrir'::di'm:;:-'  ^^'^.^'^  ""■'  "<^--^-evoi„tion 
its  defenses  to  :;r„:yXStir "  """'^  '^  '^''  "»>■  -»«- 

the  m:ripSveT::vttir™r  ,r^'  ^^^"  '^  ^--^^^^^  -''» 

ventthepaifa,eofi?rclaTs  an7h  'i^P™'''  '"^«'''""""  '"  P^-" 
arc  unfitted  for  aggres:!™  p„;p::t''"'^''^'  ^''"'""-y  f"«ifications 

bun,::' ;;:;ro7:,ir  ^^^^^  =-  --esse. , 

-.s,  would  be  incapable  ofre^fng':     h™r "'  "''"'  ''''' 
mittee,  they  gravely  state :  ™"  overlooked  by  the  Com- 

no.  to  be  h,m.  for  ooo.n  „„f„„,  „„  f  "  Cl  1  ,,      ."i'      ""'^^     '^'"'  ""S'" 
■nont  ,l„,ll  „„  co„„rHi,„d,  .l,o„  i|,„  ,  1!"',  .    °"  "'°  '"''"■  ""'«»'  '!>«  «ovcr„. 

Such  a  rocon,uu.nd.uio„  ,1.  ,  °"  ""■ '^'■«'«'"' «-<ii"g>y." 
when  it  is  stated  ^taZ^f^TT.  "  """"^  """""«"'. 
atcd-twenty-five  feet  «  ,,  !  '  "'^""^  "''"""'"  '"'"'""'■ 

laked,arbor/a„d  wo,  ,  be  •:  ,  Trf  ''".""''"J-'  fr"'"  every 
connecting  the  respe  i  E"";'/'  nT:""'','"™"""'  "'^'  '"-'' 
each  lake  would  require  its  separate  Zt'^  P"''c,V  were  adopted, 
of  oo-operatiou.  ".parutt  fleet,  and  would  be  incapable 


41 

But,  it  has  been  said  that  the  defense  of  the  Lakes  is  to  be  made 
to  tir  f  '''  «t  Lawrence.  This  plan  may  be  acceptable 
to  those  residmg  on  the  se.  board,  and  who   have  no  immediate 

TZ'V  'I  ^"'  *"  '^''''  "°^"Py^"g  '^'  «i^i^«  "PO"  the 

the  Great  Lakes,  this  plan  is  far  from  satisfactory  ;  they  will  hardly 
est  secure  m  trusting  to  a  defense  to  be  made  at  a'^distance  of 
two  thousand  miles.     The  burning  of  Buffalo  and  Black  Rock  has 
not  yet  faded  from  the  recollection  of  our  oldest  inhabitants.     Thev 

interest  ''^i   'i^^  ''"'""  ^^  """^^^^«  ^"^  '^'  magnitude  of  the 
interests  involved,  to  require  such  an  armament  as  shall  enable  the 

sunrZr'    '  ^;,«"^^'-theeventof  war,to  assert  and  maintain  its 
supremacy  on  the  Lakes.     The  representatives  of  the  North-West 
m  Congress   have   at  all   times   cheerfully  voted   appropriations 
for  fortifications,  for   ships,  arsenals   and   naval   depits,  to  pro 
tect  Ocean  commerce;  and  now  they  have  a  right  to  demand, 

tinn^'^f  iTi  -^"'f '  ^"^  reciprocal  good  feeling,  that  appropria- 
^ons  shall  be  made  for  Zake  commerce,~a  commerce  wafted  on 
waters  whose  shore-lines  far  exceed  those  of  the  Atlantic,  and 
whose  value  far  exceeds  that  of  the  external  commerce  of  the 
XT/V        '"^  ?'^  '^  P"'""^^"  ^^^y  «"^  ^«  «^«tional  and  the 

tith  r  r  ^T^^i^  ''"'  '^^''''  ^^^"^  ^y  «^^'  ^"^^^^'  «^^«">d  bristle 
with  masts  and  be  dotted  with  forts ;  and  the  other,  laved  by  fresh 
water,  should  be  left  defenseless.  The  West  has  reason  to  believe 
that  when  this  question  is  presented,  in  all  of  its  proportions,  the 
East  will  return  a  cordial  and  emphatic  response. 

The  Congress,  up  to  July,  1861,  had  appropriated  for  defense 
against  external  aggression,  more  than  nineteen  and  one-half  mil- 
hons  of  dollars  to  the  New  England  States ;  and  more  than  twentv- 
mne  and  one-half  millions  to  the  loyal  Middle  States;  while  the 
amount  appropriated  to  the  Food-producing  States  reached  a  little 
more  than  six  millions.  In  the  first  session  of  the  Thirty-Seventh 
Congress,  1802,  the  appropriations  for  forts,  ships,  etc.,  reached  fiftv 
minions,  not  one  million  of  which  was  given  to  the  North-West 

l^or  the  defcise  of  the  Lakes  is  required  an  iron-clad  fleet  to 
co-operate  with  stationary  fortifications.  In  what  manner  shall 
they  be  introduced  ?  The  Naval  Committee,  with  Mr.  Conklin  as 
their  exponent,  have  suggested  two  plans : 

1.  By  constructing  a  navy-yard  on  the  borders  of  some  one  of 
the  inland  shoots  of  water  tributary  to  the  lakes. 

2.  By  constru(^tiiig  vessds  in  parts,  and  transporting  them  to 
the  places  required  ready  to  be  set  up. 


<^// 


\\ 


lis 


f"  42 

thJ^f  Tn"^  '"•  *'  *'■''  P^PO^ilio"  it  may  be  stated,  that,  while 
the  Naval  Committee  admit  that  it  would  be  an  infringement  of 
the  t,.aty..tip„latio„s  of  181?  to  eonstrnet  war-vessel  ^  he  1/ 
gin  of  the  Great  Lakes,  it  is  difficnit  to  comprehend  by  wha  proe^  s 

ilwTr^  ",  '"""'"'''  ""  infringement  to  eonstrnet  them'on  an 
mland  sheet  of  water,  direetly  communicating  with  the  Lakes,  to 
be  sent  down  whenever  their  services  shall  be  required.  We  an- 
prehend  that  the  British  Minister  Resident  would  remonstrate  vUb 
the  Secretary  of  State,  long  before  the  first  keel  was  laid.  On  the 
other  hand  ,„  enlarging  these  canals,  we  are  but  exercising  a  ri<.ht 
winch  has  been  freely  conceded  to  Great  Britain.  ° 

Brenare  2^^!^')"  T°"^  P^P^'ition,  it  may  be  stated  that,  to 
prepare  the  materials  for  constructing  two  distinct  fleets,  one  for 
he  Upper  Lakes  and  one  for  the  Lower,  to  be  put  up  whenever 
the  necessity  may  arise,  and  to  transport  them  to  these  waters  from 
pa  s  far  reino  e,  would  be  far  more  expensive  than  the  cost  of 
usefiZ,     ;:.      "r""'""^'  communication;   and  besides,  the 

1  thM  .°     T  y^  """"  ''«-''"'='«'<'  -leiy  to  these  waters. 

A  thnd  plan  has  been  proposed,  and  th.at  is  to  make  use  of  the 
en  arged  cm.als  to  transfer  our  iron-clads  from  one  system  of  navi! 

fincT'setsTfl    ■;  ""i?""'  '"^  ""^  ^^P-"'-  of  maintaining  di  - 
Unct  sets  of  fleets.     The  Naval  Committee,  through  Mr.  P   A 

Conkhn  maintain  that,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  enlarged  New  Yofk 
canal,  ,t  is  impracticable.     We  deem  the  testimon/  of  eIcssI 

huriZi''"™"/  7''°^'';"™"*'-  "■'"'  have  saved  us  from  n.atrna! 
hum,l,,at  „„,  and  whose  fame  will  live  throu-^h  the  a..es  with  un- 

S'rr^rir-^"'--  '^-  -  «".-..e;i:a 

"An  impregnable  wau-vbsskl  op  25  feet  wide,  and  200  long, 

W  T„  A  8H0T-PKO0P  TURRET,  CARRYINa  A  GUN  OF  lo-INC„  CALIBRE 
W  TH  A  BALL  OF  450  POUNDS,  AND  CAPABLE  OF  DESTROYING  ANY  UOS- 
TILE  VESSEL  THAT  CAN  BE  PUT  ON  THE  LAKES,  WILL  DRAW,  WITHOUT 
AMMUNITION,  COAL,  OR  STORES,  BUT  6  FEET  6  INCHES  OF  WATER  • 
AND  C0NSEQUE:.TLV,  WILL  NEED  ONLY  A  CANAL  WIDE  AND  DEEP 
ENOUGH  TO  FLOAT  A  VESSEL  OF  THOSE  DIMENSIONS,  WITH  LOCKS  OF 
SUFFICIENT  SIZE  TO  PASS  IT." 

The  cost  Of  these  enlarged  communications,  according  to  the 
estimates  of  engineers  of  the  highest  capacity  and  integrity  will 
not  exceed  ^17000,000;  and  yet  the  Naval  Comn^itroe?  tlLgh 
Mr.  FA.  Conkhn,  witliout  furnishing  the  country  with  one  iota  of 
proof  to  impeach  the  correctness  of  these  eslimates,  gravely  assert 


43  ^/^ 

that  the  cost  will  e,teeea  $4.5,000,000.    With  a  like  facility  of  pen 
these  estmiates  might  have  been  s,volle,.  to  $100,000,000,  if  the«.' 
by  a  purpose  were  to  be  subserved  ■       .      ,  "  tueie 

insure  fT  1  ""V^'":'"''"  -»'  ™--^  ^^^  a  generation ;  and  to 
cou„rv  Ijf  "'^■•.»^'""-t'-»'ion  of  the  laws  over  a  portioL  of  the 
country,  wll  require  the  mainten,ance  of  a  force  snfficiont  to  put 
down  every  d,spl.ay  of  insubordination.  It  will  be  necessary  for 
til.e  Government  ,o  control  all  of  the  great  lines  of  communication. 
Jo,  this  purpose,  no  means  would  be  so  effectual  as  a  class  of  iron- 
clad gun-boats  drawing  from  6  feet  to  12  feet  of  water,  and  capX 
of  navigatmg  our  rivers  and  entering  our  harbors,  k  class  o  the 
draft  last  named,  by  the  aid  of  lighters,  conid  pass  through  he  m 
no.s  and  Michigan  canal,  from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Uke     ad 

lion,  or  repel  invasion. 

adantTtotr"'  '''^' r""^  '"'''P'"^  ">  river-navigation  are  not 
adapted  to  lake-navigation ;  to  this  it  may  be  replied  that  thov  are 

pta^ntt:  .'"  r  '"'ri "'  ""^  ^'™"'  -"'"  '  -  "■«  ™-t  i"  - 
ment  of  A  \'' f'^''^'^^-    There  are,  according  to  the  state- 

ment  of  Aam.ral  Porter,  not  less  than  60  vessels  in  the  United 
S  atcs  navy  capable  of  passing  the  proposed  locks  of  the  IllinoU 
and  Michigan  canal,  and  others  are  building  of  like  capacity. 

met  of  naf  d  T  f  •'''"'•'^rfense  is,  not  by  the  establish- 
Z!t  T\  P",,''^  """"-"'""g  of  fleets  on  these  w.aters, 
both   0    whid,  would  bo  construed  a.,  a  viol.ation  of  the  treaty 

and  foit  flcations;  but  by  opening  such  a  line  of  internal  commu- 
nication that  gun-boats  may  readily  be  passed  from  one  system  of 
navigation  ,o  another,  and  be  made  available  for  defense.'ah^e  in 
the  harbors  of  the  Atlantic,  on  the  Lakes,  and  on  the   naviaab  e 
waters  of  t .  Mississippi.    With  these  t^-o  links  in  the  c     in  ^f 
communication  completed,  a  vessel  could  be  passed,  by  an  interna 
rou  e,  from  Nc^  Orleans  to  Chicago,  Buffalo;  New  Yo^rk,  T  ei  on 
Philaddphia,  Baltimore,  Annapolis.  Washington.  Norfolk.  Rich." 
mond,  Newhern,  and  Beaufort,  making  a  distance  of  4,300  nie- 
besides  rendering  accessible  the  whole  navigable  sys  cm  of  the' 
MisMssippi  and  the  Lakes.     It  would,  theref,!;.,  become  a  matter 
of  little  moment,  whethcM-  a  vessel  were  built  at  Brooklyn,  Aniiap- 
ohs  Washington,  or  Phihidelphia ;  or  at  Pittsburgh,  CiLi.iua.i,  or 
St.  Louis;  the  mechau.cal  skill  of  every  section  of  the  coun.ry  could 


^ 


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t 
f 


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44 


"si 


be  called  into  requisition,  and  th3  vessel  completed,  with  little  in- 
convenience,  be  transferred  to  the  most  distant  waters. 

WAYS   AND   MEANS   FOR   CONSTRUCTION. 

The  bill  introduced  into  the  last  Congress  proposed,  for  the 
construction  Of  the  Illinois  communication,  the  appropriation  of 
the  bonds  of  the  Government  to  the  extent  of  about  thirteen  and 
one-half  millions   of   dollars,   redeemable   in   twenty  years,   and 
bearing  six  per  cent,  interest  per  annum,  with  the  pledge  of  the 
tolls  for  the  payment  of  accruing  interest,  and  the  ultimate  pay- 
ment of  principal,  of  which  the  traffic  would  afford  an  ample 
guaranty.     The  issue  of  these  bonds,  thus  secured,  would  subserve 
all  the  purposes  of  a  direct  appropriation,  and  would  command  the 
confidence  of  capitalists  at  a  time,  when  more  than  ever  before 
there  was  redundant  capital  seeking  investment.     It  would  not 
involve  the  necessity  of  raising  a  dollar  by  taxation. 

If  it  be  asked,  why  does  not  the  State  of  Illinois  execute  the 
work,  or  confide  its  execution  to  a  chartered  company ;  it  may  be 
said  m  reply,  that  the  State  cannot  enter  upon  the  work  without 
first  changing  her  organic  law,  which  would  require  two  or  three 
years  to  accomplish ;  and  while  she  is  agreed  on  the  policy  of  sur- 
rendering this  route  to  the  General  Government,  to  be  used  as  a 
national   highway,  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  like  unanimity  would 
prevail  with  regard  to  the  State  taking  such  action,  even  if  con- 
stitutional impediments  were  not  in  the  way.     As  to  the  second 
inquiry,  the  State,  through  her  Constitutional  Convention,  has  indi- 
cated her  policy,  in  no  event  to  surrender  this  work  to  a  chartered 
company. 

If  it  be  said  that,  however  meritorious  this  work,  the  Govern- 
ment IS  not  in  a  condition  to  incur  fresh  obligations,  it  may  be 
replied  that  no  debt  is  formidable,  based  on  a  great  improvement 
whose  revenues  are  ample  to  meet  the  accruing  interest,  and  at  the 
Banie  time  to  create  a  sinking-fund  for  the  ultimate  extinguishment 
of  the  principal.     The  railway  debt  of  the  United  States  exceeds 
eleven-hundred  millions  of  dollars;  and  yet  the  only  inquiry  of  the 
capitalist,  dealing  in  this  class  of  securities,  is,  what  will  be  the 
net  earnings  ?     The  consolidated  debt  of  Great  Britain  is  so  enor- 
mous that  It  will  never  be  paid  ;  yet,  based  as  it  is  on  the  opulence 
of  the  Empire    it  is  regarded,  the  world  over,  as  the  emblem  of 
nnancial  stability. 

So  far  as  rdates  to  the  New  York  portion  of  the  enterprise,  it 


little  in- 


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45  4^^ 

may  be  stated  that  the  Legislature  of  that  State,  by  an  act  passed 
April  22,  1862,  authorized  the  enlargement  of  one  tier  of  locks  on 
the  Erie  and  Oswego  canals,  provided  the  expense  thereof  was 
paid  by  the  United  States  ;  in  consideration  whereof  the  last  named 
party  should  have  the  perpetual  right  of  passage  through  said 
canals,  "  free  from  toll,  or  charge,  for  its  vessels  of  war,  boats, 
gun-boats,  transports,  troops,  supplies,  or  munitions  of  war." 

In  conclusion,  your  Committee  would  state,  that  this  is  an  enter- 
prise which,  in  whatever  light  it  is  viewed,  ought  to  commend 
itself  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  country.  In  its  lowest 
sense,  as  a  mere  pecuniary  investment,  the  bonds  of  the  United 
States,  based  on  the  tolls  of  the  canal,  would  command  the  confi- 
dence of  capitalists.  As  a  commercial  scheme,  it  would  enhance 
the  value  of  the  public  lands,  and  communicate  a  stimulus  to 
agriculture,  which  would  be  felt  to  the  farthest  verge  of  cultivation. 
It  would  cheapen  the  price  of  our  daily  food,  and  swell  to  a  vast 
extent  our  foreign  commerce.  As  a  national  measure,  it  would 
establish,  between  the  East  and  the  West,  closer  commercial  and 
political  affiliations,  and  forge  a  chain  which  no  convulsion  could 
sever;  while  as  a  military  system,  it  would  prove  the  cheapest  mode 
of  fortifying  a  long  line  of  frontier,  and  of  controlling  an  immense 
inland  navigation.  In  no  other  way,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Com- 
mittee, can  Congress  so  effectually,  in  the  language  of  the  Con- 
stitution, "  PROVIDE  FOB  THK  COMMON  DEFENSE,"  Or  "  PROMOTE 
THE  GENERAL  WELFARE." 

J.  W.  FOSTER, 

Chairman. 

GEO.  F.  RUMSEY, 
CHARLES  WALKER, 
WM.  McKINDLEY, 
R.  McCHESNEY, 
WM.  BROSS, 
JOHN  B.  PRESTON, 

Committee. 


36,   It 


